A Bay of Plenty teenager may lose a thumb and finger after a
fireworks explosion on the weekend.
The 16-year-old and a friend were making a bomb from
fireworks at Aongatete, 27km northwest of Tauranga, when
there was an explosion.
The boy was taken to Tauranga Hospital and later transferred
to Waikato Hospital where his condition was comfortable
yesterday, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.
Katikati Fire Service senior station officer Peter Carney
said the injury was bad enough for the teenager to possibly
lose a finger and thumb.
Katikati police senior constable John Fitzgerald said the
boys were home alone, in a workshop, when the accident
occurred at 4.25pm on Saturday.
They were constructing a small bomb, by grouping fireworks
together in a metal tube when a spark "unintentionally"
caused an explosion.
With Guy Fawkes night approaching, it was an important
reminder to be careful with fireworks, Mr Fitzgerald said.
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