Horror as discarded firework blows man's fingers off during display clean-up
A man lost two fingers after picking up a discarded firework that exploded in his hand, making his clothes melt to his body.
The man was cleaning up in Aigburth, Liverpool, after a firework display when he picked up the discarded object on Wednesday morning. Karli Dyce, who is related to the injured man, said he was using equipment to pick the objects up but his litter picker was not big enough to grasp the firework.
When he picked it up with his hand, the firework exploded. A woman called an ambulance and he was taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital for surgery, but sadly he lost two fingers.
He sadly lost two fingers (Liverpool Echo)Ms Dyce told the Liverpool Echo: "He had equipment to pick them up, but the litter picker wasn't big enough to grasp the firework. He bent down and picked it up with his hand when it exploded. He was working alone but was lucky a woman was passing by who witnessed what happened. She called an ambulance for him. He only had his first surgery last night - he has lost two fingers.
"His clothes melted to his skin and he had shrapnel injuries all over his body. His eye was also injured but luckily he won't lose his sight. The main thing is he could have lost his hand."
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The injured man's relative, from Huyton, said he remains in hospital and that he will need additional surgeries. She added: "He's been told he'll need multiple surgeries. He's not in a good headspace at the moment. The severity of the incident is really sinking in. This will cause a significant impact on his life. He could never work again."
The man was cleaning up after a fireworks display when the incident happened (Liverpool Echo)While the man has not been named, Ms Dyce said she wants to warn other people of the risks of handling fireworks ahead of Bonfire Night tomorrow. She said the family were "distraught and heartbroken" and "no one's lives will be the same" after the traumatising day.
She added: "How many of us would pick up and throw away an unlit, seemingly unused firework? I am in my 30s and never knew discarded fireworks could go off like that. It was abandoned. How many of us have them at a party or in our garden and just pick them up. Apparently you have to drench them in water before touching them. I've always hated the public sale of fireworks but now more than ever it shows how unsafe they can be."
Advice listed on the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service website warns "fireworks are explosives and should be treated with respect". A statement added: "Misusing fireworks can lead to serious and permanent injury, including the loss of fingers, serious burns and even sight loss."
People are advised to only buy fireworks from registered retailers, keep fireworks in a closed box, light them at an arm's length, stand back, supervise children and never go near a firework once it has been lit.
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