Firework death: Half a kilo of gunpowder for 400 baht - but you need to stand 50 feet away

 

 

Amarin TV reported at length on the tragic death of Englishman Gary McLaren killed by a firework in Pattaya on New Year's Eve. 

 

The news media described in graphic detail what happened to Mr McLaren in soi 13/2 outside a bar where he had been celebrating with his wife-to-be Jutharat Sasirin or Jasmine and friends. 

 

Jasmine told a reporter in tears that the firework had been bought for about 400 baht. Her boyfriend was drunk and it all happened very fast. 

 

The firework contained half a kilo of gunpowder and was five inches across. It had the power to explode to a distance of 100 meters and people should have been 50 feet away. 

 

Mr McLaren was leaning over the device when it exploded causing devastating injuries to his face. 

 

The media said that such fireworks were on sale all over Pattaya on New Year's Eve and were even easily available online. 

 

A chemistry expert from Kaset University said they are pyrotechnic devices that should only be in the hands of experts.

 

The general public should not have ready access to such fireworks, said Ajarn Ort. 

 

Jasmine said that she was due to marry on January 17th. Now her fiance's body will be taken to England for the funeral. 

 

Large numbers of people have been commenting on the case online. While condolences and tributes have poured in many have blamed the victim for his actions. 

 

Many of these are British people familiar to warnings issued about fireworks each November when a failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament is celebrated. 

 

Thaivisa notes that many people in Thailand continue to play with fireworks that are readily available and highly dangerous. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-03

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9 minutes ago, webfact said:

many have blamed the victim for his actions. 

Well is this not true? 

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Her boyfriend was drunk and it all happened very fast. 

 

The firework contained half a kilo of gunpowder and was five inches across.

A lethal combination.

 

Condolences to Jasmine and so many others.

Firework, half Kilo gunpowder, thats a bomb,

RIP fellow countryman,but you should have not

been trying to set that off in a crowded area.

regards worgeordie

Use to be don't drink and drive ( and still is)... now add to it don't drink and light firecrackers... pity that someone has to lose a life to learn it...

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by ezzra

The morons set up this stuff a week ahead of NY on Soi Bouakao every night. Miracle not to many got hurt. Some people here are really dumb. MS>

5 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Firework, half Kilo gunpowder, thats a bomb,

RIP fellow countryman,but you should have not

been trying to set that off in a crowded area.

regards worgeordie

I was wondering, what was it, a giant banger? Effectively a large stick of dynamite? Not some device designed to give off rainbow sprays of sparkles and shoot a few coloured balls into the air? 

Certainly not a device to be sold publicly and set off in a narrow street. 

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

It had the power to explode to a distance of 100 meters and people should have been 50 feet away. 

Somebody explain this please.

11 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Firework, half Kilo gunpowder, thats a bomb,

 

Posession of that or setting one off in the US under the wrong circs could have you end up in a SuperMax. 

 

Condolences to the family.

6 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Somebody explain this please.

I think it means you have a 50/50 chance of been OK if standing

at 50 feet away from it,using Thai logic !

regards Worgeordie

11 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

It had the power to explode to a distance of 100 meters and people should have been 50 feet away. 

Somebody explain this please.

 a 100 metres 'high' firework display maybe? 

15 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

37 minutes ago, webfact said:

It had the power to explode to a distance of 100 meters and people should have been 50 feet away. 

Somebody explain this please.

It had the power to explode to a distance of 328 feet and people should have been 15 meters away.

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

The media said that such fireworks were on sale all over Pattaya on New Year's Eve and were even easily available online. 

My kid was given a balloon, and we weren't allowed on BTS...

T.I.T

It was reported the fuse failed to light several times, which should have set off alarm bells. Says something about the quality standards to which these devices are manufactured.

Jasmine is the one to feel sorry for,

20 minutes ago, Momofarang said:

My kid was given a balloon, and we weren't allowed on BTS...

T.I.T

They have been filling balloons with combustible gases.

Derogatory and troll posts removed

how do they know it half a kilo of gunpowder in it ?

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Somebody explain this please.

I think you would find the firework initially goes bang and sends a projectile 100 metres into the air then goes bang again

Obviously not a single person in this bar prevented him from doing what he did...

1 hour ago, webfact said:

many have blamed the victim for his actions.

Correct, whats  all the hoo hah,  a  bit  like  sticking your head under a bus  wheel  and expecting  no possible  problems.

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Somebody explain this please.

it is designed in 2x stages -

 

1. Rocket propelled to 300 feet in the air.

2. 300 feet Huge explosion 

 

someone's head got in the way of stage 1, stage 2 it seems failed to go off probably lucky for a lot of people within 50 feet 

21 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

how do they know it half a kilo of gunpowder in it ?

about the same as a bag of sugar

12 minutes ago, Beggar said:

Obviously not a single person in this bar prevented him from doing what he did...

You try preventing a drunk from doing what they want and see what you get for your trouble. 

16 minutes ago, Beggar said:

Obviously not a single person in this bar prevented him from doing what he did...

all it would have taken was one person to step up and warn him - don't go near it, that would have been me - in fact I'd have been telling him not to buy it in the first place

 

already seen one of these knocked over after being lit by a drunk Thai woman and going straight into a bar - many people were injured one very seriously that nearly died - 3 months in hospital rebuilding her neck

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by smedly

1 hour ago, moonseeker said:

The morons set up this stuff a week ahead of NY on Soi Bouakao every night. Miracle not to many got hurt. Some people here are really dumb. MS>

If the morons set up this stuff a week ahead of NY, why was only one accident reported? According to you who do you think here are really dumb and how did you figure it out?

47 minutes ago, Beggar said:

Obviously not a single person in this bar prevented him from doing what he did...

You were there then? I wasn't but I am talking with mutual friends who were.

 

But thanks for your hopeless and futile conjecture.

 

32 minutes ago, smedly said:

all it would have taken was one person to step up and warn him - don't go near it, that would have been me - in fact I'd have been telling him not to buy it in the first place

...

His best friend who was there, knows Gary more than most and witnessed the aftermath, commented "Sorry guys, Gary passed away on New Year's Eve in front of the bar he loved. And yes he done something stupid. RIP dude"

 

Since it was after midnight, I would like to think the initial attempt to launch it had failed. I would also guess he had already been told by his mates not to mess with it any more and the video indicates he was on the street alone making further and ultimately fatal attempts to light it. It does appear that he had placed it upside down on the pavement when it went off and the charge that was meant to propel the starburst upwards including the 'bomb' blew out totally in his face.

 

It is New Year with plenty alcohol and he was among friends and loved ones but I can assure you that they already have enough remorse and self blame to last a lifetime without people who knew neither Gary or his friends suggesting that they willingly, knowingly let him kill himself.

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by NanLaew

2 hours ago, Power of life yoga said:

Well is this not true? 

Well I saw the video and it looked like he turned the firework upside down and lit it. If that is the case then it sent then thrust of the release to the ground which then backfired and blew up as a bomb. It looked like it was 100% his fault and careless stupidity. I do say RIP to the guy but it is like firing a gun directedly into a hardened metal surface at point blank range and having the bullet come back and strike you. Meaning the firework being turned upside down did the same thing.

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

You were there then? I wasn't but I am talking with mutual friends who were.

 

But thanks for your hopeless and futile conjecture.

 

His best friend who was there, knows Gary more than most and witnessed the aftermath, commented "Sorry guys, Gary passed away on New Year's Eve in front of the bar he loved. And yes he done something stupid. RIP dude"

 

Since it was after midnight, I would like to think the initial attempt to launch it had failed. I would also guess he had already been told by his mates not to mess with it any more and the video indicates he was on the street alone making further and ultimately fatal attempts to light it. It does appear that he had placed it upside down on the pavement when it went off and the charge that was meant to propel the starburst upwards including the 'bomb' blew out totally in his face.

 

It is New Year with plenty alcohol and he was among friends and loved ones but I can assure you that they already have enough remorse and self blame to last a lifetime without people who knew neither Gary or his friends suggesting that they willingly, knowingly let him kill himself.

look I understand he was your friend or you knew him - it was a very tragic event and if you read my posts carefully I have been careful not to point a finger - there is no problem in pointing out the dangers involved with these explosive devices - all the sympathy in the world will not bring him back, many have opinions on the safe use of such devices - a busy street in the hands of people drinking doesn't qualify - it really is that simple - like I said I already witnessed a similar incident and if I couldn't stop people buying and using these dangerous explosive devices then I'd be taking myself somewhere else - as far away as possible

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

It had the power to explode to a distance of 328 feet and people should have been 15 meters away.

ahh! - you are kindly bowing to compensate for that Canadians have to bear with a bitsa Imperial-Metric system

Well yeah obviously you need to back away from it that’s common sense especially if you’ve ever used one of those before those things pack a huge punch. Although 400 kilos of gunpowder I could do a hell of a lot of damage with just that if I wanted to Jesus! I didn’t know it was that much but then again there’s the usual question is the article title even true? Who knows. 

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by DennisE