Boy loses parts of fingers in firecracker explosion

An 11-year-old boy lost parts of his right thumb and other finger segments when a firecracker exploded in his right hand in Wörgl on Saturday afternoon, ORF reported. A nine-year-old boy suffered a blast-related hearing injury.

Police said the 11-year-old tried to light an object resembling a firecracker but without a fuse at about 2.10pm. After it failed to ignite twice, he pressed in the membrane at one end and tried again with a lighter. The firecracker then exploded in his hand.

Residents heard the blast and the boy’s screams and called emergency services. After receiving initial treatment from an emergency doctor, he was flown by helicopter to a clinic in Innsbruck. The nine-year-old was taken to Kufstein District Hospital. Two other boys, aged eight and nine, were unharmed.