Florida Man In Medically Induced Coma After Electronic Cigarette Explodes In His Face


A 21-year-old Florida man is in critical condition after an electronic cigarette exploded in his face, according to Winks News. Evan Spahlinger was at his home on Monday when he sat down to relax and smoke an e-cigarette, but it took a turn for the worse when it blew up in his face. It was later discovered that the e-cigarette exploded just as he was inhaling, causing the mouth piece to go down his throat, where it blew up again.

His sister, Ema Richardson, was also at the home, lying in bed with her 2-year-old son when she quickly got out of bed after smelling something burning, which set off the fire alarm. That’s when she discovered her brother on the floor inside of another room with burned scars on his face and neck, and he was apparently not breathing. She immediately called 911 dispatch, where Spahlinger could be heard choking and vomiting in the background.

“I found my brother not breathing, with his whole face burned and his neck burned and trying to throw up a little or maybe he was gasping for air, so I called 911,” Richardson said.

When the paramedics arrived, he was rushed to North Collier Hospital in Naples before he was flown to the burn unit at Kendall Regional Hospital in Miami, Florida, where he underwent treatment. He was also put in a medically-induced coma to prevent him from being in any pain. “They said he has internal and external burns and damage to his lungs from the explosion itself. And possibly the mouth piece went, when the cigarette exploded, it went down his throat and exploded again,” Richardson added.

His mother, Alissa Stefanacci, said that he underwent cosmetic surgery Tuesday afternoon, but hasn’t made much improvement since as he was still “unable to breathe without a ventilator towards the end of the day.” And she hasn’t left his side, saying “He’s my baby. He turned 21 last week. I haven’t cried yet, but I’m sure I’ll have my day. He’s a good boy. He didn’t deserve this.” Although it is a difficult time for the family, she said her top priority is to care for Spahlinger, which is her youngest son.

According to the Daily Mail, since the horrifying incident unfolded, Spahlinger’s friends, family, and the community have shown their support. His boss had even travelled to Naples to show his support and concern about his condition. Stefanacci says that their actions “shows a lot about Evan’s character, and he is a local boy who grew up in Naples; a very well-liked young man.”

Richardson said that after her brother recovers from the electronic cigarette explosion, he will not be smoking them anymore. “He said ‘I’m done, that’s it,’ ” she said. “That’s the only thing he said. Luckily I was here, it was the most traumatic experience I think of my life. We want people to know the risk and dangers. Had Evan of known, maybe he wouldn’t have chosen to smoke the electronic cigarette.”

The North Collier Fire & Rescue is currently investigating the incident, and although the family refuse to release what e-cigarette brand Spahlinger was smoking, it has been concluded that the “explosion was likely caused by the lithium battery.”

Spahlinger’s family has since been open about the e-cigarette explosion in hopes that it would warn others about the dangers of smoking electronic cigarettes. Richardson said that “We want people to know the risk and dangers. Had Evan of known, maybe he wouldn’t have chosen to smoke the electronic cigarette.”

“I hope that people see this and think twice before they spend their hard-earned money on something that could really change their life forever,” Stefanacci said.

[Image via YouTube screen capture]

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