A gas company has been fined a whopping £1.2m after an employee was engulfed by a fireball when a ruptured main exploded. SGN admitted breaching health and safety laws after operator Gary Norris, 51, suffered horrific burns all over his face and body while repairing the leaking pipe. He was diagnosed severe depression and PTSD and his colleague Adrian Hennigan was also injured in the blaze in Whistable, Kent. Cliffe Contractors Ltd was also fined £60,000 after the methane leak was created during during excavation works it was carrying out to build new shops in the seaside town.