Florida woman buys used wheelchair, narrowly escapes death after it explodes into fireball

A Florida woman narrowly avoided a gruesome death after a wheelchair battery exploded outside her home.

Alexandra Anaya had purchased a second-hand electric mobility scooter when she noticed a strange clicking sound coming from the device. Feeling uneasy, she pushed the wheelchair out of her home and doorbell footage caught the harrowing scene that unfolded.

Watch:

Video captures her running away from the device as it begins to whistle loudly, shortly before bursting into a massive fireball.

“Shortly before the wheelchair detonated, the woman had been charging it with a non-manufacturer charger, ‘which can overload or overheat a battery,’ according to Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety,” The Daily Mail reported. “The department recommended moving devices to non-combustible areas if it is still safe, always using the correct charger, checking batteries for excess heat while charging, never leaving charging batteries unattended and calling 911 if there is smoke or ‘signs of thermal runaway.'”

“Thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries is an uncontrollable increase in temperature that leads to the battery exploding and releasing toxic gas, as in the case of the wheelchair,” the outlet added. “Warning signs include the battery swelling, hissing or clicking sounds and a burning smell. Thermal runaway can be caused by manufacturing defects, overcharging or physical damage to the battery, such as punctures or dents.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Anaya explained that she looked up the clicking noise after touching the battery, which was surprisingly hot.

“It said ‘imminent danger, put it on cement or somewhere where other things won’t catch on fire,'” she said.

X users reacted to the shocking clip:

ADVERTISEMENT

Sierra Marlee

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles