Exploding E-Cig Severely Injures Florida Man
There’s got to be a less dramatic way to quit smoking.
WPTV reports a Florida man is in the hospital after his e-cigarette exploded in his face Monday, leaving him with a badly burned face and neck. Ema Richardson found her 21-year-old brother Evan Spahlinger on the floor and covered in soot after hearing an explosion and smelling smoke, according to CBS Miami.
Related: E-Cigs the New Gateway Drug
“I found my brother not breathing with his whole face burned and his neck burned and trying to throw up a little or maybe he was gasping for air,” Richardson says. Spahlinger was rushed to the hospital and put into a medically induced coma.
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Richardson tells CBS that Spahlinger has internal and external burns and damage to his lungs. She says the mouthpiece from his e-cigarette may have gone down his throat and exploded a second time. According to WPTV, Spahlinger underwent cosmetic surgery Tuesday. Before he was taken to the hospital, Richardson tells CBS her brother managed to tell her he was done with e-cigarettes forever.
Related: Smoking While Pregnant May Harm Your Grandkids
Officials believe the explosion was caused by the e-cigarette’s lithium battery, the culprit blamed in other e-cigarette explosions around the country. (Forget about packing e-cigs into your checked luggage.)
By Michael Harthorne
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This article originally appeared on Newser: Exploding E-Cig Severely Injures Florida Man