A man from Orkney sustained severe leg burns after the lithium battery of his vape device exploded while he was at work. Gavin Sutherland, 40, experienced the incident when the battery, which he was using to charge his vape, ignited inside the pocket of his jeans, causing significant injury.

According to Sutherland, the battery detonated suddenly, producing intense heat, smoke, and a loud noise. "I heard a hiss and felt movement in my pocket," he recalled. "The vape battery went off like a firework – there was a blast and a lot of heat, smoke and noise. Then the pain went searing into my thigh." The explosion also melted his clothing into the wound, exacerbating the damage.

Colleagues promptly transported Sutherland to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall. However, his condition deteriorated, and he collapsed, prompting an airlift to the specialist burns unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further treatment. Since the incident, he has undergone multiple skin graft surgeries.

Sutherland, who operates a jewellery workshop, expressed gratitude toward the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) for their assistance during the emergency transfer. "We’re so lucky to have a charity like SCAA," he said, highlighting the critical role of the air ambulance service in providing timely medical care.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns over the safety of lithium batteries in vaping devices, which have been linked to similar explosions and injuries.