An Auckland family of four has been forced from its home just days before Christmas after a demolition job next door went horribly wrong.
A chimney smashed through a bedroom wall and blocked the driveway, leaving homeowner Kate Paterson, who suffers from MS, with no escape.
"Before the wall came down, we evacuated all the children, apart from my 11-year-old son, so he was the only child still left here," she said.
When the wall smashed into the house, it ruptured the gas mains.
"The next few seconds, everyone just started yelling, 'Gas, gas,'" Ms Paterson said.
"It was completely ruptured so the gas was hissing out - you can hear how frightened people are because the man with the bulldozer didn't stop."
Ms Paterson required help form the fire brigade to escape.
"The fire brigade made a makeshift ramp to get her around the other side of the house," said Ms Paterson's partner Aaron Paterson.
Neighbours were calling out for the workers to stop as the damage occurred.
Ms Paterson had warned her neighbour that her only escape, should something happen, was through the driveway.
"He knew that and still insisted on not putting up a barrier," she said.
The house is uninhabitable and the family have had to find alternative accommodation.
"We're staying in a hotel which is accessible but unfortunately the kids can't stay with us, so we've had to billet them out with their friends, which is actually quite tough on them because they're quite traumatised," said Ms Paterson.
There's no word yet on when the family will be able to move back into their home. The Patersons' neighbour refused comment.
Newshub.
