Australian Man Discharged From Hospital After Robot Vacuum Explosion
Lachie Perrem, 25, suffered burns to 75 percent of his body following the incident in July.
An Australian man who was severely injured when a robot vacuum cleaner exploded in his home has been released from the hospital.
Lachie Perrem, 25, was reportedly using the vacuum when the device ignited and erupted into flames inside his residence in Brabham, Western Australia, on July 2. He was transported to Fiona Stanley Hospital with burns covering 75 percent of his body. Perrem has since undergone at least four surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
On September 5, his mother, Fiona Perrem, announced his discharge from the hospital in an update on the family's GoFundMe page. She shared a photo of her son standing outside the hospital's State Adult Burns Unit, his arms covered in long black bandages.
"We have some amazing news. Lachie has officially been discharged from hospital!" she stated. "After everything he has been through and so many surgeries, seeing him finally home is such an incredible feeling. He still has a long road ahead, with dressing changes a couple of times a week and plenty of healing and recovery still to come, but being home is a huge milestone."
She added, "We are so incredibly proud of how far he has come. His strength, determination and courage throughout this whole journey have been nothing short of amazing." Fiona Perrem also expressed gratitude for the support the family received from the community.
Perrem's previous surgeries included the removal of dead tissue and skin grafts to his fingers, left elbow, and torso. He was placed in an induced coma and temporarily lost his voice. Images and video from the aftermath of the explosion showed windows blown out and walls blackened by the blast, with damage extending from the kitchen into the living room, destroying furniture and charring floorboards.
In July, his mother explained that a leak in the vacuum's battery had likely caused the explosion. "He had a robo vac and, unbeknownst to him, the battery had a leak," she said. "When he started cooking, something ignited and caused an explosion. He was at the forefront of it all."
The device was sent to Western Australia's Building and Energy division for investigation. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services Western Australia noted that lithium-ion batteries, common in robot vacuums, can be dangerous due to their flammable materials. They can undergo thermal runaway, leading to violent bursts, hissing, release of toxic gases, and intense fires.
While there have been four reported vacuum cleaner fires in the past two years, this was the first incident involving a robot vacuum cleaner, according to the department.
Perrem's fiancée, Bri Thompson, who was left homeless by the explosion, described the period following the incident as "completely unimaginable" and overwhelming. Before the explosion, Perrem was involved in charity work, running The Tradie Vault, which focused on supporting men's mental health.