Mechanic dies 4 months after boiler room explosion at Philadelphia school

WEST OAK LANE (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia School District mechanic has died four months after he was critically injured in a boiler room explosion in West Oak Lane.

The incident happened just before 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 at the Franklin S. Edmonds School in the 8200 block of Thouron Avenue.

The explosion was reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the boiler room of the Franklin Edmonds School in the 8200 block of Thouron Avenue.

Officials say 61-year-old Christopher Trakimas was working on the boiler when it exploded, leaving him with burns on the lower half of his body.

He was rushed to Einstein Medical Center in critical condition where he died of his injuries, four months later.

The incident prompted calls for mandatory inspections of all school district boilers.