A man had to be airlifted to hospital after a vape battery exploded in his pocket, causing severe burns. Gavin Sutherland, 40, was working at a jewellery workshop in Orkney when he heard an ominous hiss and felt movement before the blast seared his thigh.
The Incident
Gavin said the battery 'went off like a firework.' He initially panicked, unsure whether to use water or an extinguisher. The fabric of his boxer shorts melted onto the wound, requiring a skin graft at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
After colleagues applied a burns pack, he was driven to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, where he collapsed from pain. The wound was the size of a finger, and melted fabric had to be picked away. He was then airlifted by Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) to Aberdeen.
Recovery and Aftermath
Gavin underwent a skin graft operation and has permanent scarring but no muscle damage. His nine-year-old son Caleb raised nearly £7,000 for SCAA through a sponsored cycle.
Government Action on Vapes
Earlier this month, the Government was urged to crack down on cheap vapes that circumvent the single-use ban. Millions are still discarded weekly. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the ban has reduced youth use and environmental harm, but enforcement continues.
