Two people have been killed and several injured by illegal fireworks around the country, during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
In Victoria, police are investigating the death of a 46-year-old Springhurst man after he was injured when a firecracker reportedly exploded in his hand.
The incident happened near the beach at Hollands Landing in Gippsland at about 9:30pm.
Ambulance Victoria’s Andy Watson said paramedics responded to more than 100 separate cases, including falls and assaults, in Melbourne’s CBD alone overnight.
“We’ve seen the standard types of cases, the slips, the trips and the falls early in the evening and then we see the alcohol come into play with some bigger slips, trips and falls and some assaults that occur on an annual basis sadly,” he said.
One man suffered leg injuries after falling from a lamp post on Princes Bridge, while elsewhere in Victoria, a man at Drouin was taken to hospital with facial burns after being hit by a firecracker.
A teenager was also hurt by fireworks at South Morang, in Melbourne’s north-east.
Paramedics treated three men in their 20s for burns after an aerosol can exploded in a fire at Cobram, in northern Victoria.
In Queensland a woman has been injured by fireworks on North Stradbroke Island.
Paramedics said the 45-year-old was treated for cuts to her legs after an incident at Amity Point. The woman is reportedly in a stable condition.
Top Comments
No sympathy whatsoever to those injuring themselves with illegal fireworks. They're illegal for a reason. If you choose to commit a crime by setting them off, then you need to accept responsibility for the consequences. (And perhaps it's a little bit of karma for all the dogs illegal fireworks terrorise each year...)
You were obviously too young for Guy Fawkes Day. Everyone used to have a fireworks display in their backyard.