A man was airlifted to a hospital after a vape battery exploded in his pocket like a firework. Gavin Sutherland, 40, experienced a hissing sound and slight movement in his pocket before the battery blast burned his thigh while he was working in a jewelry workshop in Orkney. Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) helicopter transported him to a hospital in Aberdeen, where he required skin graft treatment due to the melted fabric of his boxer shorts sticking to the wound.
Gavin described the sudden blast, heat, smoke, and noise, causing panic as he debated whether to use water or an extinguisher. After the battery burned through his pocket, he applied cold water to his thigh, leading to intense pain. He had to trim away the melted fabric with a sharp knife to assess the wound’s severity, realizing it needed immediate medical attention.
Colleagues assisted in applying a burns pack before driving Gavin to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, where he collapsed from the pain. Subsequently, he was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further treatment. Despite permanent scarring from a skin graft surgery, Gavin was fortunate to avoid muscle damage.
The incident inspired Gavin’s son, Caleb, aged nine, to raise nearly £7,000 through a sponsored cycle. Recent calls to the Government urged stricter regulations on cheap vapes that bypass single-use bans, as manufacturers have introduced new styles that mimic disposable models, contributing to environmental waste.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds emphasized the government’s efforts to combat disposable vapes’ harm through bans, takeback schemes, and enforcement. The decrease in discarded vapes and pods signifies progress in reducing environmental damage and youth vaping rates. Officials plan to review the effectiveness of the ban within three years to ensure compliance and address any shortcomings.
