Man’s warning after firework exploded in face, losing eye
A 25-YEAR-OLD MAN who lost an eye after a firework exploded in his face has warned other people to be careful.
The horrific accident happened on Bonfire Night in the Llanedeyrn area of Cardiff.
Antony Barry went to move a firework which went up in the air but failed to go off.
It exploded in his face almost causing deadly brain injuries.
Now almost a year on, Antony said the incident continues to affect him.
Antonysaid he still has flashbacks to the explosion and is learning how to live without his right eye.
He said: “It was like a bomb had exploded.I remember going back to the firework, going to move it and then like an explosion.
“I remember going to hospital and waking up after the operation.”
The explosion happened when Antony, a friend and his girlfriend were setting off fireworks on a patch of land in the Roundwood area.
There were several children watching the fireworks and bonfire when one rocket – known as a Flying Pig – went up and failed to explode before falling back to the ground.
Antony, from Llanrumney, said: “I went to move it after it fell back down because there were children around.”
Antony said doctors at UHW told him that had the blast hit him two inches higher he could have suffered deadly head injuries.
He said the moment doctors told him he would lose his eye was “devastating”.
He added: “I have heard a couple of fireworks since, but it will be a bit of a challenge.
“It will be the first time since I will be properly around them.
“I don’t know if I will go out yet. I’ve just got to take it as it comes.”
As thousands of people across Wales prepare to set off their own fireworks this Guy Fawkes Night, Antony has urged others to be careful.
He said: “Just make sure they are safe and check them. Just don’t go back to them because you don’t know what they will do.”
Antony added: “There’s a lot of kids out there who enjoy fireworks, so I can’t say ban them. I’m not against them, just be careful.”
Antony was also left with burns to his hands and was in severe pain after the explosion.
He said he waited 25 minutes for an ambulance so asked a friend’s dad to drive him to hospital.
Speaking at the time, Antony said: “I was just sat on the ground and couldn’t see anything out of one eye and I was in so much pain.
“When we got to hospital I had a two-and-a-half hour operation, after which I found out they had to remove my eye.
“The back of my eyeball had split in the explosion which meant it just wasn’t possible to keep my eye.
“My eye socket was fractured too and I had minor burns on my hands.”