‘My leg was burnt to a crisp’: Mother left with horrific injuries after unexpected vape accident
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Disclaimer: This article contains graphic descriptions and images of burn injuries that some readers may find distressing. Discretion is advised.
Electronic devices have become an essential part of daily life, but not all risks associated with them are widely understood.
What seemed like a routine morning quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal for one woman when an unexpected malfunction led to severe consequences.
What followed was a harrowing experience that left lasting physical and emotional scars, highlighting the hidden dangers many may not realise exist.
A quiet morning turned into a nightmare for Kerri Absolom when a vape device in her pocket suddenly caught fire, leaving her with severe burns and a long road to recovery.
The 35-year-old retail manager from Dorset had been rushing to leave home in November 2022 when she noticed smoke coming from her trousers.
Before she could react, sparks erupted ‘like a firework,’ and she and her husband, Christopher, frantically tried to remove her clothing.
‘I saw a small flame begin to flicker in my pocket. I tried furiously to pat it out with my hands,’ she recalled.
She didn’t realise the extent of her injuries until she looked down.
‘My hand was in such throbbing pain that I hadn't even registered what it had done to the rest of my body.’
‘As I rinsed it under the tap, I saw my leg was so badly burnt that the skin was rolling into one oozing mass.’
Firefighters arrived and moved her into the garden, using a hose to cool the excruciating burn before rushing her to hospital.
It was later confirmed that the fire had been caused by the vape’s lithium battery coming into contact with her keys, which acted as a conductor and triggered the combustion.
Ms Absolom suffered third-degree burns and was admitted to the burns unit for a week as her wounds required constant care.
Despite being given morphine for pain relief, her recovery was far from easy.
To minimise scarring, she underwent a skin graft, but even daily tasks like showering became unbearable.
‘I kept getting allergic reactions and rashes from the pain medication,’ she said.
‘I struggled to sleep because I was in a constant state of fear and became terrified that something else would explode in the night.’
Even after her wounds had healed, the psychological impact lingered.
‘The smell of toast cooking would make me panic.’
‘At work, if someone dropped something in the warehouse or if sparklers or Christmas crackers were used at work parties, I'd freeze in fear.’
She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and remained off work for two months to recover.
To help with the scarring, she underwent three laser treatments, but the incident left her with lasting physical and emotional scars.
Now, she admits she is still self-conscious about her leg.
She shared: ‘I no longer wear shorts in summer or skirts higher than my knees.’
‘I also think back to how much worse it could've been. What if my son had been in my arms when it caught fire?’
‘The thought of him suffering injuries like mine terrifies me more than anything.’
Determined to raise awareness, she sent photos of the damage to her local vape shop to warn others about the risks of lithium battery malfunctions.
‘I had no idea that the batteries could be so dangerous.’
‘I’m so careful with electronics now and have since quit vaping.’
In a previous story, another shocking vaping incident left an Australian questioning everything they thought they knew about the habit.
Their experience sheds light on the hidden dangers many users may not consider.
Read more to see how this unexpected discovery changed their perspective.
With the growing popularity of vaping, incidents like this raise serious concerns about battery safety. Have you ever experienced or heard of a similar malfunction?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Electronic devices have become an essential part of daily life, but not all risks associated with them are widely understood.
What seemed like a routine morning quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal for one woman when an unexpected malfunction led to severe consequences.
What followed was a harrowing experience that left lasting physical and emotional scars, highlighting the hidden dangers many may not realise exist.
A quiet morning turned into a nightmare for Kerri Absolom when a vape device in her pocket suddenly caught fire, leaving her with severe burns and a long road to recovery.
The 35-year-old retail manager from Dorset had been rushing to leave home in November 2022 when she noticed smoke coming from her trousers.
Before she could react, sparks erupted ‘like a firework,’ and she and her husband, Christopher, frantically tried to remove her clothing.
‘I saw a small flame begin to flicker in my pocket. I tried furiously to pat it out with my hands,’ she recalled.
She didn’t realise the extent of her injuries until she looked down.
‘My hand was in such throbbing pain that I hadn't even registered what it had done to the rest of my body.’
‘As I rinsed it under the tap, I saw my leg was so badly burnt that the skin was rolling into one oozing mass.’
Firefighters arrived and moved her into the garden, using a hose to cool the excruciating burn before rushing her to hospital.
It was later confirmed that the fire had been caused by the vape’s lithium battery coming into contact with her keys, which acted as a conductor and triggered the combustion.
Ms Absolom suffered third-degree burns and was admitted to the burns unit for a week as her wounds required constant care.
Despite being given morphine for pain relief, her recovery was far from easy.
To minimise scarring, she underwent a skin graft, but even daily tasks like showering became unbearable.
‘I kept getting allergic reactions and rashes from the pain medication,’ she said.
‘I struggled to sleep because I was in a constant state of fear and became terrified that something else would explode in the night.’
Even after her wounds had healed, the psychological impact lingered.
‘The smell of toast cooking would make me panic.’
‘At work, if someone dropped something in the warehouse or if sparklers or Christmas crackers were used at work parties, I'd freeze in fear.’
She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and remained off work for two months to recover.
To help with the scarring, she underwent three laser treatments, but the incident left her with lasting physical and emotional scars.
Now, she admits she is still self-conscious about her leg.
She shared: ‘I no longer wear shorts in summer or skirts higher than my knees.’
‘I also think back to how much worse it could've been. What if my son had been in my arms when it caught fire?’
‘The thought of him suffering injuries like mine terrifies me more than anything.’
Determined to raise awareness, she sent photos of the damage to her local vape shop to warn others about the risks of lithium battery malfunctions.
‘I had no idea that the batteries could be so dangerous.’
‘I’m so careful with electronics now and have since quit vaping.’
In a previous story, another shocking vaping incident left an Australian questioning everything they thought they knew about the habit.
Their experience sheds light on the hidden dangers many users may not consider.
Read more to see how this unexpected discovery changed their perspective.
With the growing popularity of vaping, incidents like this raise serious concerns about battery safety. Have you ever experienced or heard of a similar malfunction?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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