Mum left looking like she’d been ‘attacked by zombie’ after vape explodes and causes car to go up in flames The vape user was rushed to hospital after her ‘car was just one huge fireball on the side of the road’

A woman says she looks like she has been ‘attacked by a zombie’ after her vape exploded in her car, which went up in flames.

Suzanne Manus, from Alabama, US, was driving back home after a shopping trip when her rechargeable vape, resting between her legs, blew up last November.

The 32-year-old said her legs were set on fire and she was forced to pull over on the highway and jump out of the vehicle to remove her trousers.

Mum left looking like she’d been ‘attacked by zombie’ after vape explodes and causes car to go up in flames The vape user was rushed to hospital after her ‘car was just one huge fireball on the side of the road’

Suzanne Manus, 32, said her vape blew up in her car while driving on the freeway (Kennedy News and Media)

 

She was left on the side of the road waiting for an ambulance, who rushed her to Flowers Hospital in Dothan, before being airlifted to the trauma centre at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

The mum-of-two suffered extensive burns on her inner thighs, the top of her private parts and bottom, and underwent two surgeries to heal her wounds.

“I was on the way home from shopping and I was in the car on my own and on hands-free to my husband,” Suzanne explained.

The vape user was rushed to hospital after her 'car was just one huge fireball on the side of the road' (Kennedy News and Media)

The vape user was rushed to hospital after her ‘car was just one huge fireball on the side of the road’ (Kennedy News and Media)

“I was just driving down the road talking to my husband and then the next thing you know, my vape just exploded.

“It was in my lap and it exploded and I had an immediate reaction.

“The explosion scared me and my husband could hear me as he was on Bluetooth in my car.

“What he heard was the ‘boom’ of the explosion and me screaming and saying I was on fire and then everything went quiet. He thought I was dead for about 45 seconds.”

The remains of her car (Kennedy News and Media)

The remains of her car (Kennedy News and Media)

She continued: “Immediately, my foot pressed the accelerator. I was swerving all over the road. I looked down and saw I was on fire and in that moment I thought I was going to die.

“I had to take my pants off on the side of the highway. I called my husband back and I was crying.

“By the time I was in the ambulance my car was just one huge fireball on the side of the road.”

Suzanne, who previously smoked for seven years, spent a month in hospital recovering and now has to put lotion and Vaseline on the damaged areas ‘four or five times a day’ at home.

Although her wounds are healing well, she is still struggling with the trauma of the fire.

She said most of her wounds are healing (Kennedy News and Media)

She said most of her wounds are healing (Kennedy News and Media)

“For the first couple of days, it felt like I was still on fire. I was burning and they had to scrape and clean my skin,” Suzanne added.

“I was really close to losing my leg, thankfully this did not happen.

“It was a little bit in my private area but nothing that required surgery there. It was on either side of my inner thighs and reached all the way back halfway up my butt.

“When I looked at my legs after the first surgery, I couldn’t see how they could get better.

“It looked so bad and it looked like a zombie had attacked me in these areas.

“I thought I’d be left scarred for life at this point as I didn’t know what to expect after my next surgery.”

Her friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help with her recovery – if you wish to donate, you can do so here.

Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media

Topics: US NewsVapingHealth

Mum loses 'everything' after 'dodgy' air fryer explodes and causes devastating house fire

Mum loses ‘everything’ after ‘dodgy’ air fryer explodes and causes devastating house fire

Angel Carpenter admitted she thought it was a ‘joke’ when she received a tragic phone call from a neighbour

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

A young mum is lucky to escape with her and her 15-month-old baby’s lives after her ‘dodgy’ air fryer exploded.

On Friday (24 January), Angel Carpenter received a phone call from a neighbour at around 11.00am to tell her that her house was on fire, and she rushed back to discover her home in ruin.

“They said your house is on fire,” the 23-year-old, of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, explained. “I thought it was a joke.”

The 23-year-old's home was devastated by the blaze and subsequent water damage (SWNS)

The 23-year-old’s home was devastated by the blaze and subsequent water damage (SWNS)

The dividing wall between her kitchen and living room had been devastated by the blaze, while the kitchen door was knocked down by desperate firefighters trying to tackle the raging flames.

The single mum, who was at work as an admin assistant at the time of the incident, lost all of her furniture and her toddler’s baby clothes and toys in the fire.

Angel was told by attending Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock firefighters the fire could have been caused by an electric fault which led the air fryer and two areoles to explode.

“I didn’t expect this. I always double check everything is turned off,” she shared.

“They said it was something to do with a plug socket, or it could have been a dodgy air fryer – that much had melted they couldn’t tell what it was.”

While Angel explained how she ‘lost everything’ to the blaze, it could have been a lot worse if she and her daughter Frankie were present in the kitchen at the time of the explosion.

Angel Carpenter and her 15-month-old baby Frankie have been forced to move into Angel's mum's home (SWNS)

Angel Carpenter and her 15-month-old baby Frankie have been forced to move into Angel’s mum’s home (SWNS)

She added: “Everything I have worked for has gone into that house.

“It was such a shock; I cried for ten hours – it broke me. I have lost everything in that house.”

Fortunately, the fire managed to burst the water pipes which helped extinguish the flames – although it in turn caused water damage, as well as fire damage, to her belongings.

However, Angel hadn’t taken out home insurance meaning she won’t receive any money to pay for replacements for her valuables.

She has now been forced to move back into her mum Emma Carpenter’s home until hers can be fixed and refurbished.

“I should have taken out fire insurance or house insurance,” Angel shared. “You don’t think of it.”

“It doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream.”

Emma, who was looking after young Frankie at the time of the accident, is now hoping to raise £4,500 through a GoFundMe page to help refurnish her daughter’s home.

Shropshire fire and rescue said: “At 11:17 on Friday, 24 January, 2025, SFRS Fire Control received a call reporting a fire classified as House Fire in Bridgnorth.

“Two fire appliances were mobilised from Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock. An Operations officer was in attendance.

“Fire crews used two hose reel jets, covering jet, ventilation fan and 4 breathing apparatus. Fire crews also isolated solar panels, gas and electricity.”

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: UK News

Popular vape flavours that could be banned as government announces new plans

Popular vape flavours that could be banned as government announces new plans

The Tobacco and Vapes bill was mentioned in the King’s Speech today, revealing which flavours will be taken off shelves first

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

As part of the King’s Speech outlining Labour’s legislative agenda for the coming months, the vape flavours that could be banned have been announced.

On 29 January this year, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced via LADbible that the government would introduce new measures to crack down on the worrying rise of young people and children who vape.

Disposable vapes will be banned
Credit: LADbible
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New regulations around vaping products

It consists of a ban on disposable vapes altogether across the UK, and a restriction on certain flavours of vapes from being sold that have been marketed specifically at children.

Manufacturers must also produce plainer, less visual packaging.

The government introduced fines for shops selling vapes to children, and they will have the power to change how vapes are displayed in shops as well.

These measures were introduced after alarming figures showed the sharp increase in children vaping, as nine percent of 11 to 15-year-olds now use vapes, while the number of those vaping between 11 and 17 years old has multiplied by nine in the past two years.

Following Labour’s landslide win in the UK’s general election on 4 July, the government has chosen to revive Sunak’s plans to phase out smoking and impose the aforementioned restrictions.

Restrictions on tobacco

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill also progressively increases the age at which people can buy tobacco so that it will eventually be illegal for people to do so, meaning anyone born after 1 January 2009 will never legally be allowed to smoke.

With the support of health campaigners and charities, the bill – which was shelved once the election was called – is set to go ahead as planned.

Colourful vapes like these won't be around for much longer. (Getty Stock Photo)

Colourful vapes like these won’t be around for much longer. (Getty Stock Photo)

Certain vape flavours to be banned

Certain flavours of vapes will not be sold in shops across the country soon, with the likes of bubble gum and candy floss set to be some of the first out the door.

Research shows that children prefer these sweeter flavours compared to other ones like menthol.

Tobacco pouches will also fall under the same restrictions as vapes, with packaging and display of the products under the government’s control.

King Charles III’s speech on Wednesday (17 July) morning outlined how the ‘Bill will provide ministers with powers to regulate the flavours, packaging and display of vapes and other nicotine products.’

More power will be given to Trading Standards officials to fine retailers who sell vapes and tobacco to those under the legal age of 18.

Though the long-term health effects of vaping are unknown, smoking is widely known as the biggest cause of cancer in the world, and is linked to at least 16 types of the deadly disease.

Smoking and vaping will be illegal for the next generation. (Getty Stock Photo)

Smoking and vaping will be illegal for the next generation. (Getty Stock Photo)

Vaping bill backed by medical and health experts

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief medical officer for England, stated: “A smoke-free country would prevent disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future.

“Smoking causes harm across the life course from stillbirth, asthma in children, cancer, strokes, heart attacks and dementia.

“Most smokers wish they had never started. Secondhand smoke causes harm, including to vulnerable people.

“The Bill to create a smoke-free country in the King’s Speech would be a major step forward in public health,” he concluded.

The King’s Speech also touched on how the government will restrict how junk food is advertised to children, as well as the sale of caffeinated energy drinks.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photos

Topics: HealthVapingUK News

Teenager almost died after 'sharing vape and drinks' on a night out

Teenager almost died after ‘sharing vape and drinks’ on a night out

The 18-year-old felt unwell after a night out, and medical tests revealed that her condition was worse than she thought

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

A teenager almost died from an infection following a night out.

Sian Alderton, 18, thinks that she fell ill after sharing drinks or a vape while she was out.

At first, she thought that she had a regular bug that made her feel unwell, but after her mother saw red spots appearing on her body, she rushed her to the hospital.

And while the teen’s system fought the health condition, Alderton was put in a medically-induced coma for four days.

The teenager had caught bacterial meningitis, a rare infection that causes inflammation around the brain, after an outing to two clubs with her mates in Norwich, Norfolk on 18 October.

The 18-year-old felt unwell after a night out in Norwich (SWNS)

The 18-year-old felt unwell after a night out in Norwich (SWNS)

Reflecting on the events, mum Kerrie Durrant recalled that ‘everything happened so quickly’ once they were in hospital.

She said: “Sian was put into an induced coma and the doctors and consultants told us Sian was very poorly.

“We would need to prepare for the worst and to say our goodbyes as she may not come out of the coma.

“I want to make people aware that the doctors have to find a source or where the meningitis bacteria started from,” she highlighted.

Initial tests showed that the teen had symptoms of sinusitis, indicating that it could have been passed to her through sharing a vape or drink, as well as through saliva while kissing.

The Brit explained that she was ‘not a heavy drinker’, going out for the social aspect while having ‘three or four drinks’.

“I shared my vape with three mutual friends and this is not unusual as everyone shares vapes on a night out,” she admitted, saying that she thought nothing of it.

The next day, she thought she’d fallen sick as a Chinese takeaway caused her to start vomiting, but by the following day, the 18-year-old was covered in ‘red and purple spots’.

Durrant held a glass against the spots, but as they did not disappear under pressure, as non-serious cases do, they rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Alderton didn’t recall much of the trip to the hospital. Her mother said that her daughter couldn’t move due to aches, and was complaining of a headache.

“Me and Sian’s stepdad decided to take her to A&E ourselves but knowing what I know now I would have called 999,” the mum reflected, as a purple rash developed on her neck as well as the spots on her stomach and legs.

Alderton was put in a medically-induced coma as her body fought the infection (SWNS)

Alderton was put in a medically-induced coma as her body fought the infection (SWNS)

It took just four hours at the hospital for Alderton to be diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and placed into a coma, as the teen later revealed that she was ‘still pretty out of it’ when she woke up days later, highlighting: “It was one of a very few cases the hospital had ever seen.”

Doctors couldn’t work out the exact cause, but Alderton credited her family with visiting her everyday, especially her mum, who slept over on some nights during her 14-day stay.

The 18-year-old’s recovery was quick though, as she passed her driving test less than a week after being discharged.

Durrant sent a message of gratitude to those at the hospital, saying: “Myself and the family would really like to thank the NNUH doctors, consultants, nurses and everyone else involved in Sian’s care.

“The staff in A&E, resus, ICU and the Heydon Ward really are amazing.”

Dr Tom Nutt, CEO of charity Meningitis Now, explained that meningitis is a ‘life-threatening illness’ that can ‘progress rapidly’.

He pointed out that not everyone with the bacteria falls ill, but added: “Close contacts of someone with meningitis are at higher risk and may require preventive antibiotics.

“Avoiding the sharing of personal items and staying up to date with vaccinations can help reduce the risk of transmission.

“If you suspect meningitis, trust your instincts and seek urgent medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives.”

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of meningitis include:

  • A fever
  • Vomiting
  • A headache
  • A rash that doesn’t disappear when a glass is rolled over it (Rashes don’t always develop)
  • A stiff neck
  • Sensitivity to bright lights
  • Drowsiness/unresponsiveness
  • Seizures

Featured Image Credit: SWNS