PSNC employee injured in Durham gas explosion dies

The PSNC employee injured in the downtown Durham gas explosion earlier this month has died, UNC Hospitals said Thursday.

View WRAL's complete coverage of the April 10 explosion

Jay Rambeaut was a first responder and a locator for PSNC Energy, an investigative job that required him to go on-site when something may be wrong, the company confirmed. Rambeaut had been with the company since 1988.

After the explosion on April 10, Rambeaut went into cardiac arrest at Duke Hospital, but doctors were able to revive him.

Rambeaut suffered a skull fracture and had more than 150 holes in his chest from debris that flew into him.

“This job can be dangerous, and Jay demonstrated the skill and courage this job requires,” said Tom Farrell, Dominion Energy CEO. “I ask you to keep his family in your thoughts. I know I will say an extra prayer tonight.”

Jenny Hoang, a Duke doctor who helped treat explosion victims like Rambeaut, hosted a yard sale at her home last weekend, donating all proceeds to the Rambeaut family.

"On the day of the gas explosion, I saw the people that were injured coming through, and I saw the injuries that they had and it really touched me," said Hoang.

Kong Lee, the owner of Kaffeninate coffee shop, was the first death reported after the explosion.

Lee was inside his shop, located on the bottom level of the Prescient building at 115 North Duke Street 10 a.m., when the building exploded at 10:07 a.m. The building was a total loss, and more than a dozen surrounding buildings were also impacted.

At least 25 other people were injured in the explosion, including nine firefighters. The blast was felt for miles and left the Durham community shaken on what was, ironically, the city's 150th birthday.