Firework backfires, rips hole in Minnesota man Nick Beheng’s chest (VIDEO)
Fireworks are displayed at a shop in Berlin on Dec. 29, 2009.
A Minnesota man is in critical condition after an unexploded firework backfired and blew a hole in his chest.
Doctors attempting to operate on Nick Beheng, 31, had to call in the bomb squad after discovering the explosive was still live in his chest, Minneapolis TV station KARE reported.
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The bomb squad stood by in the waiting room as the explosive was removed, then took it to a bunker at their training facility in nearby Rosemount, The Associated Press reported.
Beheng was shooting fireworks from a hand-held mortar tube on Saturday when one misfired and blew out the bottom of the tube, ripping his chest open, Anoka County sheriff's detective Mike Lapham told the AP.
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""It's as if somebody shot that device out of a cannon," Anoka County Sheriff's Office spokesman Cmdr. Paul Sommer told KARE.
According to Minneapolis TV station WCCO, Beheng's family released the following statement through the hospital on Wednesday:
"Nick has a long recovery ahead of him. Thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time. We would like to thank the first responders, surgeons and medical staff at Regions Hospital who are caring for our son. We are confident he's getting the best care possible."
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