Warning: This article contains an image of the injuries which some may find distressing.
A 40-year-old man has described the terrifying moment a vape battery exploded in his pocket, leaving him with severe burns and prompting fresh safety warnings from experts.
Gavin Sutherland was airlifted to hospital after the incident in February, which began when he noticed an unusual sound coming from his pocket.
The blast caused significant damage to his thigh and later required a skin graft. His case has also highlighted the dangers linked to carrying lithium batteries loosely in pockets or storing them near metal objects such as keys or coins.
Safety experts say that while vape battery fires and explosions are uncommon, they can cause serious injury, especially when a battery is damaged, overheated or short-circuited. They also warn that users should never charge vapes unattended, leave them in direct sunlight or extreme cold, or use the wrong charger.
Speaking to the BBC, he said:
“I heard a hiss and slight movement in my pocket. Then it went off like a firework – the blast searing into my thigh.
“I knew immediately it was something to do with the battery, but things happened so fast.”
Sutherland went on to describe the chaos in the seconds after the battery ignited:
“There was a blast and a lot of heat, smoke and noise. 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.”
He said the heat was so intense that denim from his jeans and fabric from his boxer shorts melted into his skin, making it immediately clear that he needed urgent treatment.
The seriousness of the injury came as a shock to him.
“I thought I would just get some cream and a telling off, but it turned out to be a lot more serious than that.
“At Accident and Emergency, I sat down and basically collapsed – I was in extreme pain.”
Sutherland also praised Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), saying the crew quickly gave him confidence during the emergency.
“They had me on painkillers pretty quickly, but I could see the severity of the wound as they worked on it.
“The crew were really reassuring – so professional yet so personal.”
Doctors later found there had been no muscle damage, although he has been left with permanent scarring.
Specialists say batteries used in vaping devices should always be handled carefully, and any device that becomes hot, makes hissing or cracking sounds, swells, leaks or takes longer than usual to charge should not be used.
They also recommend buying from reputable retailers, checking the device is genuine, using the manufacturer-approved charger, and storing spare batteries in a protective case rather than loose in a pocket or bag.
In the wake of incidents like this, safety officials have warned that lithium batteries used in vaping devices can cause devastating injuries if handled or stored improperly.
They wrote:
“Charge your vape on a clean, flat surface, away from anything that can easily catch fire and someplace you can clearly see it – not a couch or pillow where it may more easily overheat or get turned on accidentally.
“Protect your vape from extreme temperatures by not leaving it in direct sunlight or in your car on a hot summer day or freezing cold night, and do not charge it in extreme temperatures.”