Chemistry Student's Tragic Death After Chewing Gum Explodes in Mouth
A 25-year-old chemistry student died in horrific circumstances when a piece of chewing gum exploded in his mouth, tearing off his jaw and lower face. The incident, which occurred in 2009, involved a fatal mix-up of substances that turned ordinary gum into a devastatingly powerful bomb.
The Fatal Mistake
Vladimir Likhonos, a Ukrainian student, had a habit of dipping his chewing gum into citric acid to enhance its flavour. However, on that tragic morning, he accidentally placed his gum into a highly explosive powder that was nearly identical in appearance to citric acid. Upon popping the gum back into his mouth, the substance detonated almost immediately.
Police spokeswoman Elvira Biganova confirmed that around 100 grammes of the suspected explosive was found on the table where he had been working. "Anybody could have mixed them up," she told reporters, highlighting the dangerous similarity between the two substances.
Immediate and Severe Injuries
The explosion caused catastrophic injuries, with the blast tearing off Likhonos's jaw and the lower part of his face. Emergency medics rushed to the scene but were unable to help due to the severity of the wounds. Tatyana Kushnerova, an assistant officer with the local police force, stated that investigators believed the injuries were instantaneous.
Biganova added that even seasoned officers were deeply shaken by the scene, emphasising the gruesome nature of the accident. A bomb squad was called after experts determined the substance was too dangerous to transport, with some local reports suggesting it may have been up to four times more powerful than TNT, though this claim remains unverified.
Background and Conflicting Reports
While some reports indicated the incident took place at a local university where Vladimir studied, others suggested he may have already been expelled and was conducting experiments at his own house. Irina Lisovskaya, deputy dean of the chemical engineering faculty, noted that Likhonos had received an A in chemistry but had average grades in other subjects.
"He got an A in chemistry, but his grades in other subjects were average," Lisovskaya said. "Yes, Vladimir was not a poor student, but he never graduated [as] he could not defend his diploma thesis and was expelled last year." This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with handling explosive materials, even in seemingly mundane situations.
