My vape blew up my leg leaving acid eating through my flesh

by · Mail Online

A father has dubbed vapes 'a ticking time bomb in your pocket' after his exploded leaving highly corrosive battery acid eating through his flesh.

Robert Kane recounted the 'horrific' moment an e-cigarette battery burst inside his pocket, comparing it to be being in 'a fireball'. 

The 37-year-old said the pain felt like his leg 'had been put in an oven' as the acid tore its way through his thigh and lower leg as he stood outside a B&M store. 

The father had been trying out vapes in a bid to quit cigarettes when the contraption began to start 'fizzing and sparking like a firework' in his jeans. 

Following the incident which took place with his daughter present, he has issued an urgent warning to others who may 'potentially [be] walking around with a ticking time bomb in their pocket'. 

Robert Kane recounted the 'horrific' moment a e-cigarette battery burst inside his pocket, comparing it to be being in 'a fireball'
The e-cigarette battery acid burst in his jeans outside a B&M in Wythenshaw while his daughter was present (Pictured his injuries)

Mr Kane tried to quit cigarettes for e-cigs as part of a health kick in 2019, as he claims he was following government advice, who allegedly promoted it as healthier than smoking. 

But to his horror, the device exploded whilst he was shopping with his daughter as they were stood outside a B&M store in Baguley, Wythenshawe.  

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'It was the same sound as when you first light a firework. And then I had this incredible burning pain on my leg,' he said. 

'I saw some smoke so I pulled down my jeans and pants to my knees, but then realised I was naked. 

'So, I pulled up my pants quickly and then there was some sparks and a second bang.'

The charred remains of the battery fell to the floor as the injured father was rushed to Wythenshawe hospital by his sibling. 

After being doused with warm water, medics told the engineering technician that the acid had ripped through three layers of skin and was one of the worst injuries they had ever seen. 

'It was horrific, like I had been in a fireball. The nurses were peeling off my skin. It had burnt so deep you could see my muscle. It was 11 out of 10 pain - indescribable,' he said.

The father had began vaping in a bid to ditch the cigarettes however the faulty item left him with painful third degree burns

The father spent 12 days in the burns unit, medicated with morphine and antibiotics as they nervously waited to hear if he need an operation. 

Mr Kane added: 'I didn't want to have two disfigured legs, so I said no to a skin graft. 

'Every few days they removed all the dead skin and peeled it off and it looked horrible like a snake shedding its skin. I thought it would never get better.

'That was one of the hardest things, having to learn to walk again along with the constant pain in my leg, which felt like it was constantly on fire.'

Following his ordeal, Mr Kane later successfully sued the vape shop where he purchased the e-cigarette for over £20,000 in compensation.

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'People need to know how dangerous e-cigarettes are. It all happened in a flash. The pain was incredible - like my leg had been put in an oven,' he warned.

'I went to a vape shop as e-cigs were supposed to be healthier, but instead they scarred me for life and I'm back on the cigs instead.

'Now I tell anyone vaping is not worth it. They are potentially walking around with a ticking time bomb in their pocket. 

'I got third degree burns in seconds from a battery and have the scars to prove it.'

However Mr Kane's ordeal didn't end after leaving the hospital or his six months in recovering, as his severe burns meant he had to avoid all sun for 18 months due to dangerous UV rays.  

He has now issued a stark warning to all e-vapers using external battery-powered e-cigarettes. 

He spent six months recovering from the ordeal and couldn't go on holiday for 18 months due to the dangers of UV rays. He later successfully sued the vape shop for £20,000

'Don't do it, never keep batteries in your pocket, and if you have them in a bag keep them in a carry case as they could blow up at anytime,' he said.

Catherine Citron, personal injury specialist from Sharston-based Express Solicitors, who won him compensation, said: 'Robert was trying to be healthier by not smoking tobacco and now has been left with a badly scarred leg for life. 

'His injuries were horrific and not what you expect to happen from a shop bought e cigarette battery.

'Any premises selling e-cigarettes or vapes need to give appropriate safety advice.'