An elderly Georgia man suffered third-degree burns after trying to open a bag of chips with a lighter. The man reportedly ended up burning 75 percent of his body.
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According to Georgia’s WSB-TV, a 75-year-old man out of Dalton, Georgia burned over 75 percent of his body after he tried to open up a bag of potato chips with a lighter. The scary incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday (January 3) at an apartment complex on Sir Lancelot Place.
Speaking with the Channel 2 Action News team, City of Dalton Communications Director Bruce Frazier confirmed that the man, who has not yet been identified, was trying to open up a bag of chips when he wasn’t able to do so with just his hands. So, he instead grabbed a lighter to try and open the bag of potato snacks.
During the process of using the lighter to open the bag, the man, who was sitting in a recliner chair, accidentally ended up setting himself on fire. It’s reported that maintenance workers who arrived at the scene before firefighters had to use a hose to control the recliner fire.
Frazier specifically stated, “The victim…was using a lighter to open bags of chips which he was unable to do with his hands. While doing this, the man accidentally set himself on fire while sitting in a recliner.”
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Once officials were able to rescue the man and control the fire, he was rushed to a Chattanooga, Tennessee hospital, which is about 32 miles from Dalton, Georgia. Officials said upon the Georgia man’s arrival at Erlanger Baroness Hospital, he had suffered third-degree burns on over 75 percent of his body. The man was later taken to a burn center, where his current condition has not yet been released.
Officials said that they are not completely sure how the fire started, but noted that it may be due to potato chips being extremely flammable due to their oils and starches.
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The post Elderly Georgia Man Suffers Third-Degree Burns To 75% Of His Body After Trying To Open Bag Of Chips With A Lighter appeared first on Hollywood Unlocked .
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