Watch dramatic moment London lorry driver's vape battery explodes in cab burning his arm

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
The dramatic moment a lorry driver's spare vape battery exploded burning his arm and sending flames shooting up

This is the shocking moment a man's vape battery exploded burning his arm and sending flames shooting up. Liam Moriarty, a lorry driver, was waiting for a collection in Dartford, Kent, when a spare battery exploded after falling from his pocket.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Liam had reclined his seat when the battery fell into his chair's mechanism pinched the battery causing it to explode - sending flames shooting up towards Liam. The 33-year-old from southeast London, said: "The tilt mechanism for the chair pinched the battery, just my luck. There was a loud hissing sound and by the time I looked up the flame came up and burnt my elbow."

Liam's truck is ADR equipped, which means it is able to carry dangerous goods and had a fire extinguisher ready. The shocked driver used the extinguisher to put out the flames and was able to save himself and the truck. He said there was a bed and other flammable items nearby which means the cab could have ignited and destroy the £130,000 lorry.

Liam said: "It's just the fact that it's an ADR-equipped truck that the fire extinguisher was there. On the side with the cog mechanism, there's a bed, a seat, all things that can burn, it might have gone up in flames."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
This is the shocking moment a man's vape battery exploded burning his arm and sending flames shooting up. Picture: SWNSThis is the shocking moment a man's vape battery exploded burning his arm and sending flames shooting up. Picture: SWNS
This is the shocking moment a man's vape battery exploded burning his arm and sending flames shooting up. Picture: SWNS | SWNS

Luckily his injuries were not severe and the flames did little more than singe his skin a little. Liam said: "I was more worried about the lorry which was was a three-month-old vehicle.

"I wouldn't have a job and there would be a massive insurance claim. Each one of those lorries costs £130,000. It would have been massive."

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.