I lit up a ciggie... and can of air freshener blew my car to bits!
WITH windows blown out and the bodywork warped and buckled, this is the wreckage of a hatchback left by an explosion caused by... air freshener.
Sharon Druitt, 51, had bought the £3.49 canister from B&Q and placed it on the back seat of her Ford Focus before lighting a cigarette.
But somehow the gas from the aerosol can was ignited by the flame, causing an explosion that threw the windscreen 30ft.
Miss Druitt escaped with burns to her arms and singed hair after scrambling from the burning vehicle. She was ushered to safety by a passer-by in the car park of the store in Southend.
Speaking from her hospital bed yesterday, Miss Druitt said: ‘I put the air freshener on the back seat, lit a cigarette, turned the engine on, then bang. I just saw a white cloud. I couldn’t see anything else.’
The man who rushed over to help her said: ‘I have never seen anything like it. At first we thought it was a terrorist attack because of the world we live in.
‘Then I just heard screams and ran to the car and all the windows were smashed and the doors were buckled. The whole car park is covered in bits of car.’
Describing how Miss Druitt had tried to return to the car to grab her handbag, he added: ‘I said, “No, no, no, the roof’s on fire.” I basically had to push her to the other end of the car park.’
Witness Albert Quixall, tweeted: ‘Very loud bang. Ford Focus doors, windscreen, roof blown out. B&Q staff rushing to help.’
Essex Fire Service confirmed the blast had been caused by gas from the air freshener and being ignited by the cigarette.
Miss Druitt, who lives close to the store, said that she had tested the cherry- blossom Nilco air freshener just before buying it around midday on Wednesday and it ‘ smelled lovely’. She was about to go to put flowers on her adoptive parents’ graves when the canister exploded.
An ambulance took her to Southend University Hospital where she remained last night.
‘I was on morphine from the moment I left the car park, so I had no idea of the damage,’ she added. ‘The officer said to me, “Do you know what you got out of?” and showed me the images of the explosion.’
An investigation into the explosion is being carried out by Essex Police and the fire service. Essex Fire Service divisional officer Justin Benson-Ryal said: ‘Incidents like this are very rare but it is important for everyone to be aware how flammable aerosol cans, such as air fresheners and deodorants, can be. ‘We strongly advise you not to use an aerosol in a confined space and also you should not be smoking during or shortly after use.’ They should also not be stored in small spaces or exposed to sunlight and hot temperatures.’ B&Q said the fire service had confirmed there was no evidence that the canister leaked. Nilco did not comment last night.
‘No, the roof’s on fire’