Charles Axisa, known as il-Landa, died after a pipe exploded in the hotel’s boiler room.

A long-time carnival enthusiast lost his life early yesterday morning after a pipe exploded in a boiler room at the Buġibba Hotel.

Charles Axisa, 59, known as il-Landa, was working late at the hotel when the explosion occurred. He was struck on the side of the head, investigating sources told The Times.

The incident happened just before 11.45pm on Tuesday.

The father of four from Valletta, who was in charge of maintenance work at the hotel, was rushed to hospital but died soon afterwards.

Another man was in the room and was treated for slight injuries on site.

Mr Axisa’s death came as a huge shock to his family, friends and carnival enthusiasts.

Jason Busuttil, president of the Carnival Participants Association, who has known him for many years, described him as a “very happy person” who fought hard for the rights of carnival enthusiasts.

Our dream will finally become reality – hopefully – but he will never see it

A veteran float-builder, Mr Axisa had been involved in the making of floats and the organisation of the annual three-day carnival costume and dance activities.

“For the past 17 years he took care of designing and building King Carnival and he was also association secretary,” said Mr Busuttil.

“It’s such as great loss – we spoke over the phone the night before about the discussions to finally build the famous store in which to build the floats,” he said.

“Our dream will finally become reality – hopefully – but he will never see it. Who would have known,” Mr Busuttil said. He described Mr Axisa as a man of few words who went by the book.

“You knew exactly where you stood with him – he would tell you exactly what he thought to your face.”

Mr Axisa was one the few men whom enthusiasts looked up to for his experience and knowledge when it came to the creation of carnival floats. “He was among the first to use hydraulics in floats – he was the expert everyone turned to,” Mr Busuttil said.

Chris Vassallo, director of the hotel, said Mr Axisa was an “amazing person” and “part of the family”.

“We lost someone very special,” he said.

Condolences were conveyed to the family by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, the carnival organising team and Culture Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera, who said the carnival world had lost a “pillar”.

The funeral will take place today at 8.30am at St Domenic’s Church, Valletta.