“It can go right a thousand times, but if it goes wrong once, life can be over in an instant.” That’s what young Tobias says. The now 18-year-old Waldviertler exploded a firecracker in his hand on New Year’s Eve 2022/23. He bravely talks about the fatal consequences of his risky action and appeals to everyone who would like to have a blast at New Year’s Eve.
It’s not every day that a thoughtless person sits down in front of the camera and talks unfiltered about the worst night of their life. But Tobias, who is only 18 years old, takes the step and reports on what he experienced on New Year’s Eve two years ago in a campaign launched by the Viennese police.
Flash bang set explodes in hand
“A ‘Number 1 Super Size’ with a 200-gram flash device exploded in my hand,” says the Waldviertler in an excerpt from the LPD Vienna (see below). The pyrotechnic device is an illegal fireworks from the Czech Republic. The large amount of 200 gram flash bang kit results in a loud bang and a fast and powerful explosion. They are illegal in most countries and there are significant risks associated with their use.
“My injuries included a severed hand, including half of my forearm,” Tobias said. He also lost his right vision and suffered a broken jaw. That’s not all: the explosion also resulted in a 2-inch hole in the heart, several holes in the lungs and two fist-sized holes in the chest area, as he describes.
“Life can be over in one fell swoop”
It’s a miracle Tobias is still alive. He also knows: “It can go right a thousand times, but if it goes wrong once, life can be over in an instant. Stop the illegal shooting of fireworks!” he calls on other detonators.
Both the Waldviertler and the director want others to learn from the 18-year-old’s story. Because: “Every year around New Year’s Eve, serious injuries occur when illegal fireworks are ignited,” the police emphasize.
Use strictly regulated
The deployment of fire brigade authorities is strictly regulated. Only the categories F1 (from 12 years) and F2 (from 16 years) are freely available. And within the environment, only category F1 may be used.
The use of fireworks is generally prohibited inside and in the immediate vicinity of hospitals, children’s homes, retirement homes, churches, places of worship, animal shelters and zoos, including outside them. For class F3 (from 18 years) a specialist knowledge course is required, from class F4 (from 18 years) specialist knowledge is required. Violations also result in fines of up to 3,600 euros.
On New Year’s Eve 2023/2024 alone, a total of 55 people were injured by fireworks or rockets in Austria, including two police officers.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
