A MAN collapsed in pain after a vape exploded in his pocket, causing horrific burns.
Gavin Sutherland, 40, suffered severe burns when his ‘s battery burst, melting his jeans and underwear into his skin.
Gavin Sutherland, 40, suffered serious burns to his leg after a vape exploded in his pocket Credit: SWNS
The exploded battery caused his jeans and underwear to melt into his skin Credit: SWNS
Gavin, from Orkney, an archipelago in , kept a spare charged lithium battery for his inside his jeans while at work.
He heard a “hissing” sound and saw smoke before a sudden blast sent burning pain through his leg.
Gavin said: “I was just getting on with my work when I heard a hiss and felt something in my left pocket.
“I knew immediately it was something to do with the battery, but things happened so fast. There was a blast and a lot of heat, smoke and noise.
At hospital, Gavin underwent painstaking skin grafting to help heal his wound Credit: SWNS
Gavin was transported to the mainland via The Scottish Charity Air Ambulance Credit: SCAA / Facebook
“I was running around in a panic swearing but didn’t know whether to use water or an extinguisher on it.
“I ran to the door and the battery rolled to the ground having burned through my pocket.
“I put some cold water on my thigh, but then the pain set in.
“The denim and the fabric of my boxer shorts had melted onto the wound, so I used a sharp knife to trim away the material and get a look at the wound.
“It was pretty sore and obviously needed medical attention.”
Gavin’s coworkers helped him place a burns gel pack on his leg, and drove him to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall – thankfully just ten minutes away.
When he got to hospital, Gavin “collapsed” due to the “extreme pain” he was in.
He then had to endure painful showers to try and rinse out the wound and pick pieces of melted fabric away, revealing a large wound across the area where the pocket had been.
When doctors were able to get a clear look at the burn, they deemed it serious enough to send Gavin to a specialist burns and plastics unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Gavin needed to be transported from the island to the mainland via The Scottish Air Ambulance (SCAA).
Having his pain managed by morphine meant he slept for a lot of the flight, waking as the helicopter approached Aberdeen.
Gavin said: “The crew were really reassuring – so professional yet so personal. I knew I was in safe hands.”
At the hospital, Gavin underwent painstaking skin grafting to help heal his wound.
Fortunately, there was no muscle damage so he’s confident of a full recovery – albeit with permanent scarring.
Gavin said: “I know of SCAA and the life-saving work they do – especially for island and remote communities like mine.
“They may not have played a life-saving role in my case but their support meant the world to me and I know it made a huge difference to my well-being during a worrying stage in my life.
“We’re so lucky to have a charity like SCAA in Scotland.
“It’s reassuring for everyone to know that if the situation is critical or life-threatening, SCAA could be there to save your bacon.”
Gavin’s freak accident prompted his nine-year-old son Caleb and his pal to stage a 20-mile sponsored cycle, raising nearly £7,000 in support of SCAA.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
