Two plumbers have been scalded, one badly, while repairing a boiler at a Queenstown hotel.
The tradesmen, of Flint's Plumbing Queenstown, were sprayed with hot water when a valve came off the boiler at the Hilton Hotel.
A 56-year-old Cromwell man was the most seriously burnt - across his back, left shoulder and upper arm.
He was flown to Dunedin Hospital after the accident about 2pm on Monday.
St John Queenstown station manager Keith Raymond said ''he was a status 2 - not critical but serious''.
''He'll potentially need plastic surgery. He was significantly worse than the 19-year-old.''
The 19-year-old Queenstown man had superficial burns to the right side of his neck and lower back.
Both were initially taken to Lakes District Hospital.
Flint's Plumbing Queenstown declined to comment.
Mr Raymond said the 56-year-old suffered burns to about 8% of his body.
''That's actually quite a significant area for a burn.
''Burns are incredibly painful, especially extensive stuff.''
The priority for paramedics treating burns was cooling the burns, keeping them clean and sterile, and pain management, Mr Raymond said.
A spokeswoman for WorkSafe NZ said it had been notified about the incident and was conducting follow-up inquiries.
Once it had collected more information, a decision would be taken on whether a formal investigation was required.
