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.
Before the stitches could be reattached to his hand, he needed pins to be inserted into his thumb.
Rio’s friends had attempted to retrieve a rocket which had failed to explode and they were unsuccessful.
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 the hand of his father and destroying his clothes.
Ricky stated that Ricky was fortunate that his hand didn’t get completely blown off by a firework.
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 shared his story as part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS’s) ‘Bang Out of Order’ campaign.
Rio, who is currently in a joinery apprenticeship said: “One of my friends said that he had this firework. He brought it outside. I thought that it was just a regular 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 an winger for Tameside Sunday league team Manor FC, advised other children and young people not to take a firework if offered one.
Before he could attach his thumb to his hand, he had to have pins inserted. The thread was left hanging by a string.
Rio’s friends had tried to retrieve a rocket which had failed to explode. The horrifying incident occurred. Pictured: Rio’s injuries to his chest, arms, and abdomen following the incident
He said: ‘As a family, we don’t normally have our own fireworks, we attend organised displays. I will never play with fireworks again.
“I’ve been very fortunate, I could’ve lost all my hand, or the use, but I have been told that I will regain full control.”
Rio, a former student at Newman RC College, Chadderton, hopes to return to work and continue playing football as soon as she can.
The teenager is currently undergoing weeks of physiotherapy to get his hand back. He is unable to attend college because he is still in his joinery apprenticeship.
Rio said: “I can’t accomplish everything, my dad must help me do it all. I am right-handed, it has stopped me from doing most of the 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 chest where my stitches were, it could have been worse.
“If someone offers you a firework, think twice and say no. This is what could happen.”
GMFRS urges everyone to be safe on Bonfire Night.
GMFRS is urging the public, along with partner agencies such as Greater Manchester Police (GMP), and North West Ambulance Service, (NWAS), to think carefully about their actions, and to support emergency services in keeping the public safe.
Rio, a footballer, warned children and young people not to take a firework from others. Pictured: The jacket that Rio was wearing when the firework exploded
The teenager is currently undergoing weeks of physiotherapy to get his hand back. He is unable to attend college because he is still in his joinery apprenticeship.
It is a good idea to attend organised firework displays. However, if you are using fireworks at home, make sure to buy them from a licensed seller and follow the Firework Safety Code.
GMFRS group manager Val Hussain for Bury, Oldham, and Rochdale said that every year, we see many people, including children, get hurt by fireworks misuse. Unfortunately, we have seen it again in the past weeks.
“Our advice is to go to a bonfire and fireworks show if you can. Please remember to follow all COVID-19 rules if you do this.
‘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 fun but can also prove to be extremely dangerous if used incorrectly.”
GMFRS organizes a fireworks amnesty to reduce firework-related injuries and keep Greater Manchester safe during the
Bonfire time is when members of the public can dispose of fireworks safely. To have fireworks safely collected, contact GMFRS at 0800 555 815