Perth man left with third degree burns after vape ‘explodes’ in his pocket

By admin On May 22, 2023

Warning: This story contains graphic content.

A Perth man has been left with third-degree burns after a vape “exploded'” in his pocket.

The man, 40, now faces years of treatment to repair the damage done to his leg.

The incident comes as the Australian Medical Association (AMA) renew their calls to the state government to do more to curb the sell and supply of vapes across Western Australia, particularly to children.

“The vape equipment basically exploded and he sustained the burns to 7 per cent total body, surface area of his body,” AMA President Dr Mark Duncan-Smith.

“He required operations, he required two weeks in hospital and he described it certainly as an experience he would not recommend to any other.

“Vaping is being specifically targeted towards our children and they need to be protected by us as a society and by a government by ensuring that the maximum fines are applied to people that sell these illegally”

The sale of nicotine vapes and e-cigarettes without a prescription has been banned for several years in WA.

The WA Health Department has seized and destroyed 24,000 products in the past 12 months alone.

“The McGowan Government have become a toothless tiger when it comes to talking a big game on vapes but actually not imposing any,” Opposition Leader Libby Mettam said.

Fines can’t be handed out under the current legislation, hut Health Minister Amber Jade Sanderson insists WA has some of the toughest tobacco laws in the country.