Aberglasslyn man Brendan Allwood, 24, died after going to the aid of his boss Aaron Watt, who had received an electric shock while the pair worked under a house in Buffier Crescent, Rutherford, on Tuesday afternoon.

Witnesses said Mr Allwood was electrocuted when he grabbed Mr Watt, 31, after seeing that he was in trouble.

"Brendan is the real hero he tried to save his boss and he did but gave his own life doing it," Mr Watt's wife Janelle said.

"But he wasn't just a worker, he was a close friend of the family, a good guy and he was a great mate."

Mrs Watt said her husband, who owns Rutherford-based business Aaron Watt Plumbing, was still undergoing extensive tests in John Hunter Hospital because doctors fear the electric shock may have damaged his heart, kidneys or other internal organs.

He is listed as being in a stable condition.

Several neighbours and the resident of the house conducted first aid and CPR on the pair until paramedics arrived.

Mr Allwood died in Maitland Hospital soon after.

Mrs Watt said her husband was still struggling to come to terms with the accident.

"He's shaken up and I think he's just trying not to think about what happened to Brendan at this stage," she said.

"I think we're all just sort of concentrating on him getting better right now."

Police believe the pair had been at work under the house for about 15 to 20 minutes and had begun cutting through a galvanised water pipe when Mr Watt was shocked.

WorkCover is still investigating the incident.