(ProsperNews.net) – A South Carolina man died after placing a firework on his head and lighting it. Allen Ray McGrew of Dorchester County had reportedly been drinking heavily and placed the large device on his head to “show off” to friends. Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office said Mr. McGrew was pronounced dead at the scene.
The stricken man’s wife told officers the incident happened during a Fourth of July block party in Summerville. She reported telling her husband not to go through with the stunt and pleaded with him to remove the firework from his head. Witnesses said McGrew fell to the ground immediately after the device detonated. Local media indicated that the fireworks used were legal in South Carolina.
Mrs. McGrew told reporters that directly before his death, her husband made warm remarks to his son, telling him, “You are my rock, you are my heart.” Hunter McGrew described being severely traumatized by his father’s death and noted that video footage of the incident is circulating online.
The tragedy was one of several on the Fourth of July. A 34-year-old Illinois man died handling fireworks in Chicago, and in LaSalle, a 25-year-old was killed when mishandling illegal devices. Huntsville Emergency Medical Emergency Services in Alabama reported the death of a 20-year-old who suffered severe abdominal trauma caused by exploding fireworks.
Non-fatal incidents included the unexpected detonation of a shell device in Jacksonville, Alabama, which prompted the city to cancel a planned public fireworks display. A man lost a hand in Colorado Springs, and a 10-year-old boy was hospitalized in Oklahoma.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports almost 10,000 yearly fireworks-related incidents in America. Most injuries are to the hands, followed by the face and ears. Experts warn that fireworks also increase distress in those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and negatively impact military veterans in particular. The Commission recommends only using legal fireworks and keeping a hose or water bucket nearby at all times.
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