Hamilton man nearly blinded by firework

Nov 19 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

THE partner of a man hit in the eye with a firework has revealed how he was nearly blinded in the horrific accident.

The 36-year-old victim, who doesn’t want to be named, suffered a severe eye injury after being hit in the face by a misfiring Roman candle in St Giles Way on bonfire night.

Dozens of people had gathered at the nearby St Giles Park for a fireworks display on Guy Fawkes Night.

The injured man was standing at the edge of his front garden watching the display when the firework came hurling towards him and struck him on the eye.

It’s understood that the firework had not been lit properly, toppled over and failed to fire its contents safely upward, leading to the nasty incident.

The man’s partner contacted the Advertiser following our article last week about the incident.

She said: “The firework shot directly into his eye.

“ It has damaged his eye and he is off work.

“It was an accident, but it could have been prevented had it been lit more carefully.

“The doctors are hopeful that he isn’t going to be blinded in the eye, his eye will improve and he will be okay.

“He will have to wear glasses and is continuing to receive treatment at the hospital.

“I was in the house and looking out the window at the time.

“The firework came shooting towards people and then hit my partner in the eye.

“He didn’t suffer any burns and was taken to hospital.”

She added: “It has been a traumatic and upsetting time for us.”

Fire crews from Hamilton, Larkhall and Motherwell were called to 42 incidents on bonfire night.

Most incidents occurred from 5pm onwards and many were false alarms or secondary fires involving rubbish or bonfires.