Colorado Man In Critical Condition With Severe Injuries After E-Cigarette Explosion Damages Mouth [Video]

A Colorado man is in critical condition following the explosion of an e-cigarette. According to the Daily Mail, Cordero Caples has suffered severe injuries as a result of the horrific electronic cigarette explosion that occurred on Friday, November 20. Now, photos of his disturbing injuries have gone viral as social media users are raising awareness about the dangers of smoking e-cigarettes.

According to WREG, Caples staggering number of injuries from the e-cigarette explosion including a broken neck, several facial fractures, and a spinal injury. The explosion also severed one of his teeth and burned his mouth.

Due to the extensive injuries from the e-cigarette explosion, Caples may require a number of surgeries to improve his condition. Fox-13 reported that Caples was scheduled to undergo a spinal surgery on Sunday, November 22. During a recent news interview, his sister Colessia Porter, released a statement on behalf of their family. She briefly detailed her brother’s condition, confirming the injuries he’d suffered.

“It’s going to be a long, intensive recovery process. I ask that the City of Memphis keep us in your prayers. We need them. He needs them. He has a very outgoing personality. He’s that guy that can do whatever in the world he wants to do. He’s really, really into fitness, and he’s really good at it. That’s what he was in school to do, but with an injury like this, it puts those things in question. I’m just hopeful he can make a speedy recovery and a full recovery.”

According to Fox-13, the e-cigarette that caused the explosion was manufactured by a company called Kangertech, but it has been reported that the explosion may have been the result of improper use as opposed to some form of mechanical malfunction.

Mary Grace Burns, an employee at the Memphis-based smoke shop, VaporWize, cited something about Caple’s e-cigarette explosion she personally found alarming after viewing a photo of Caples’ injuries. The publication reports that there is a possibility the man’s e-cigarette explosion could have been avoided. Since e-cigarettes are usually made up of two components – battery tank and a heating coil to create vapors – both components must be compatible. Caples’ e-cigarette components were reportedly incompatible. She also stressed the importance of purchasing e-cigarettes from a reputable dealer.

“This is way too powerful to power this. Way too hot of a battery. You can have a way-too-high amped battery in there or something like that could easily misfire and cause something like that. It’s operator error though.”

“They think it’s just an easy little hobby, but they aren’t watching the videos on YouTube of how to do it, or coming in here, to get us to teach them how to do it.”

Caples’ sister has created a GoFundMe account in order to raise funds for his medical expenses. The family is hoping to raise approximately $25,000 for his hospitalization since it is unclear how long he’ll need medical treatment for his injuries. No further details have been released about Caples condition.

GRAPHIC: A Memphis man is in critical condition after an e-cigarette explosion.https://t.co/tjxHl7h4KM pic.twitter.com/vxQret6lHZ

— WMBF News (@wmbfnews) November 22, 2015

According to the United States Fire Administration, statistics show that e-cigarette explosions are rare and there have been no deaths related to injuries involving e-cigarette malfunctions, but accidents do happen, which is why it’s important to make sure proper precautions are taken before smoking.

[Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images]