AMERICA’S FIRST VAPING DEATH
Man killed by exploding vape pen had metal fragments embedded in his SKULL and 80% burns to his body
Tallmadge D’Elia’s burned body was found in the upstairs bedroom of his home in St Petersburg, Florida, on May 5
A MAN killed by exploding vape pen had metal fragments embedded in his SKULL and 80 per cent burns to his body.
Tallmadge D’Elia’s burned body was found in the upstairs bedroom of his home in St Petersburg, Florida, on May 5.
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The gruesome discovery was reportedly made by firefighters, who were called by a neighbour after the reported seeing flames.
The 38-year-old, a former TV producer for CNBC, suffered burns on 80 per cent of his body and also sustained injuries to his skull and brain.
At least two parts of the exploding vape pen were removed from his head, the Pinellas County medical examiner told the .
The incident is the first recorded death from an e-cigarette explosion in the US.
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But one British man was killed in 2014 when an e-cigarette he was using exploded and ignited oxygen equipment he is believed to have been using.
D’Elia was smoking an unregulated Smok-E Mountain Mech Works vape pen before he died.
The pen does not come with safety features to ensure the device doesn’t overheat, according to .
A spokesman for Smok-E Mountain Mech Works told that they’ve been having issues with other companies cloning their batteries.
The spokesman said the company’s devices do not explode and that the problem likely stems from the battery or the atomizer.
E-cigarette battery explosions are rare, but when they occur the device “can be propelled across the room like a bullet or small rocket,” according to a US Fire Administration report.
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There were 195 explosions in the US between 2009 and 2016 but none resulted in death – although the explosions caused 133 injuries, 38 of them severe.
And the UK has seen its fair share of e-cig related injuries too.
A mum from Essex was left with a scorched scalp after her she said her vape battery blew up in her partner’s car just weeks ago.
And one man last year was left with horrific acid burns after he said his e-cigarette became red hot and exploded in his pocket while he watched telly at home in Hull, East Yorks.
A version of this story originally appeared on .
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