Father-of-two’s exploding vape horror: Builder is left with second-degree leg burns after e-cigarette battery ‘exploded in his pocket’

• *** WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT *** 

A father-of-two claimed that he received second-degree burns after his vape exploded in his pocket.

Builder Dave Johnson said he was rushed to hospital after the e-cigarette battery ‘shorted’ on his keys on September 25.

The workman claimed he heard a fizzing sound while carrying a paving stone at a customer’s house in West Yorkshire moments before the vape exploded, setting his shorts on fire.

Mr Johnson said he was rushed to Airedale Hospital in Steeton after the horrific incident. The giant patch of raw skin then became infected and he was hospitalised at Wythenshawe Hospital in Greater Manchester for six days.

He received IV antibiotics to tackle the infection but miraculously did not need either surgery or skin grafts. The father-of-two is now warning people that vape batteries can be dangerous.

Dave Johnson, 41, from Colne received second degree burns after his vape battery ‘exploded

 He initially received treatment at Airedale Hospital but was then hospitalised at Wythenshawe Hospital in Greater Manchester after his wound became infected

Doctors administered pain relief and managed to scrap off the scorched flesh and bandaged his leg up at Airedale Hospital in Steeton

The accident happened when the loose rechargeable vape battery stashed in his pocket ‘shorted’ on his keys on 25 September

Mr Johnson said: ‘Thankfully I didn’t need surgery on my leg. I used to smoke then moved to vaping to get away from smoking. I did it for my health, I was smoking 20 a day, it’s like the better of two evils.

‘I was carrying some stone paving flags out of my van. I’d taken a fully charged battery for the e-cig and it was in my pocket with my keys, I normally leave spare batteries in the van.

‘It shorted on my keys in my pocket and exploded. I heard a fizzing sound, almost like when a firework rocket starts to go off, and then felt the pain. The pain in my right leg was excruciating, like if you put your hand in far too hot water. I knew straight away it had done damage.

Mr Johnson is urging vape users to never carry batteries in their pockets

Mr Johnson ditched his 20-a-day cigarette habit for vaping two years ago

Mr Johnson is now back at home dealing with his would and is glad to not have to receive a skin graft

‘I dropped the flag and saw flames shooting out of my pocket – the flames were eight or nine inches coming out of my leg.

‘I originally tried to stick my hand in to get it out but I couldn’t. Then eventually it burned a hole through my shorts and it fell out onto the floor.’

‘Because my partner is a hospital sister, luckily I’ve been able to do my dressings at home with her help.

Mr Johnson is urging vape users to never carry batteries in their pockets. 

He said: ‘It’s doing ok, it’s just a case of waiting for it to heal. It wasn’t the actual e-cig that caused it, it was incorrect transportation of the battery. I’m still vaping but I’m not keeping batteries in my pocket any more.

‘I would say to people to just be careful and be aware this can happen.’

Source: Read Full Article