I found this video, a pretty good deep drive into an Ecotec that threw #1 connecting rod out the side of the block.
There is fairly good explanation of the internals of an Ecotec. Grad a cold one and some popcorn and enjoy!

 

So cylinder #1 connecting rod broke and punched some holes in the block. That sounds vaguely familiar....

Steve

 

I cried when I saw the similarities, oh the humanity! Poor Oldblue!