Emergency services and engineers respond to a gas leak in Frankton Rd, Queenstown, yesterday.
British man Fennar Ralston, who was staying nearby at the Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort, said he only had time to pick up a jacket before escaping wearing only his pyjama bottoms when the hotel was evacuated after 10am.
"I was asleep. Woke up and there were knocks on the door and a massive smell of gas — it was really strong."
A police spokeswoman said officers helped evacuate the area and managed traffic while gas company engineers arrived to help emergency services.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Daniel Reilly said two volunteer crews from Queenstown responded to a report that contractors had struck a gas line at 10.20am.
He said firefighters attended to isolate the gas and investigate the risk to nearby properties.
