Teenager’s thumb was left ‘hanging by a thread’ when £25 firework exploded in his hand, leaving him with serious burns across his body
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
- Rio Diveney, 16, from Manchester, was left with burns after a firework exploded
- The £25 rocket exploded while in Rio’s hand after it had initially failed to go off
- Rio was left with burns to his chest and abdomen after igniting the gunpowder
- He got pins inserted into his thumb before it was stitched back on to his hand
A teenager’s thumb was nearly blown off and left hanging by a thread after a £25 firework exploded in his hand, leaving him with severe burns across his body.
Rio Diveney, 16, from Moorside, Greater Manchester, was left with burns to his chest, arms and abdomen after he ignited gunpowder contained in a £25 rocket.
He had to get pins inserted into his thumb before it could be stitched back on to his hand, which was split down the middle after the accident.
The horrific incident took place after Rio’s friends had retrieve a rocket that had failed to explode.
Rio Diveney, 16, from Moorside, Greater Manchester, was left with burns to his chest, arms and abdomen after he ignited gunpowder contained in a £25 firework
His father Ricky, 37, explained: ‘They had taken the rocket apart with the gunpowder out of it and Rio’s gone down there and decided to light it.
‘But it exploded immediately, damaging his hand and ruining his clothes.’
Ricky added: ‘The doctors said he was lucky his hand wasn’t blown completely off, the firework was that powerful.’
Rio was rushed to Royal Oldham Hospital by one of his friend’s mothers and he was later transferred to Wythenshawe Burns Unit for further treatment.
The teenager has spoken about his ordeal as part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS) ‘Bang Out of Order’ campaign.
Rio, who is currently doing a joinery apprenticeship, said: ‘One of my friends said he had this firework, he brought it outside, I thought it was just a normal firework.
‘I took it to the corner of the street went to light it and it just blew up, it didn’t make the normal noise a firework would.’
Rio, a keen footballer who plays as a winger for Tameside Sunday League team Manor FC, warned other young people and children not to take a firework if they are offered one.
He had to get pins inserted into his thumb, which was left hanging by a thread, before it could be stitched back on to his hand, which was split down the middle after the accident
The horrific incident took place after Rio’s friends had retrieve a rocket that had failed to explode. Pictured: Rio’s burns to his chest, arms and abdomen after the incident
He said: ‘As a family, we don’t normally have our own fireworks, we attend organised displays. I will never mess with fireworks again.
‘I’ve been very lucky, I could’ve lost my hand completely, or the use of it, but I have been told I will regain the full use of it.’
Rio, a former pupil of Newman RC College in Chadderton, is hoping to return to work and play football as soon as possible.
The teenager is undergoing weeks of physiotherapy before he will get full use of his hand back and is currently unable to attend college as part of his joinery apprenticeship.
Rio added: ‘I can’t do things – my dad has to help me do everything. I am right-handed, it’s stopped me from doing most things.
‘I have been very lucky, doctors have said I could’ve lost my first finger, my thumb, they said it could have been my face. It could have been my heart where my stitches were – it could’ve been a lot worse than it was.
‘If anyone brings you a firework, just think twice and say no because this is what can happen.’
The incident comes as GMFRS urges the public to stay safe on Bonfire Night.
GMFRS, alongside partner agencies, including Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), is calling on the public to think carefully about their actions and support the emergency services to keep the public safe.
Footballer Rio warned other young people and children not to take a firework if they are offered one. Pictured: The jacket he was wearing when the firework exploded
The teenager is undergoing weeks of physiotherapy before he will get full use of his hand back and is currently unable to attend college as part of his joinery apprenticeship
People are advised to go to organised firework displays but if they are having fireworks at home, buy them from a licensed retailer and follow the Firework Safety Code.
Val Hussain, GMFRS group manager for Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, said: ‘Every year we see a number of people, including children, injured through the misuse of fireworks and sadly we have seen it happen again in recent weeks.
‘Our advice would be, if possible, go to an organised bonfire and fireworks display, and if you are doing this, please don’t forget to keep up with all the COVID-19 measures.
‘If you are going to use fireworks at home, then please follow the firework code and that starts with making sure the fireworks have the CE standard mark on them.
‘Fireworks can be enjoyable but can also be extremely dangerous if not used correctly.’
GMFRS runs a fireworks amnesty with the aim to drive down firework-related accidents and keep Greater Manchester safe during the
Bonfire period by allowing members of the public to dispose of fireworks safely. Contact GMFRS on 0800 555 815 to have fireworks safely collected.
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