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37-year-old loses hand to firecracker

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37-year-old loses hand to firecracker
Photo: DPA

A man from Saxony-Anhalt has become the first major casualty of the New Year’s pyrotechnic orgy by blowing off his left hand with a firecracker, police announced Thursday.

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The 37-year-old man’s hand was badly injured on Wednesday when the firecracker went off quickly after it was lit. He was rushed from the town of Deuben where the accident happened to a hospital in Jena.

Doctors had to amputate his left hand. A second man standing nearby was also injured when the firework detonated, albeit not seriously.

Police are investigating the remaining batch of fireworks that were in the men’s possession. The type and origin of the firecrackers were not immediately known.

Fireworks are legally available in Germany from December 29-31 each year. They must be purchased by someone over 18 and cannot be used beyond January 1. Germans spent a total of €113 million on fireworks last year.

Legal fireworks have been checked by the Stiftung Warentest – Germany's independent consumer safety agency. However, there are concerns that illegal fireworks from eastern Europe, which are cheaper and often more powerful, are widely sold in Germany. Such fireworks have been known to detonated immediately after being lit, causing injuries.

This year, authorities are cracking down on use of fireworks in areas close to churches, hospitals and historic buildings. While the rules vary from city to city, people breaching the no-fireworks zone regulations face fines up to €50,000.

DPA/The Local/djw

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