OKC Man Nearly Loses Leg After Fireworks Accident

An Oklahoma City man nearly lost his leg as a firework exploded, and the accident played out on camera.

Tuesday, July 21st 2015, 11:17 pm

By: News 9


An Oklahoma City man nearly lost his leg as a firework exploded, and the accident played out on camera.

It happened on the Fourth of July, but 19-year-old Jose Herrera just got out of the hospital and now has advice for others.

Herrera won't be able to walk awhile, but he wanted to talk about his experience to warn others about the dangers of fireworks when you don’t follow the instructions.

"I wasn't thinking at the time. Everybody was just having too much fun. That's what it was ... just too much fun and too much excitement. The first explosion it didn't go up in the air,” Herrera said. “ I should’ve known better to let it go, but I didn't."

In shock, all Herrera could hear was a loud ringing in his ears.

"I tried to stand up, and I couldn't feel this leg,” he said.

Herrera fell to the ground, and when he woke up in a hospital realized what happened.

"I could see all my muscles. I could see my bone, half of what was left of it," Herrera said. "Basically what the doctor told me is it was like I had a mini grenade in my pocket, and it just went off and exploded my leg into pieces."

So far, he said he has had five surgeries, three just to clean out his leg.

"I actually had pieces of the rocket, plastic and tube all inside of my leg. Parts of my pants were inside my leg,” Herrera said. "Just look what can happen. I could maybe be here paralyzed for a long time, and it's not worth it. It's not worth it at all just for having a good time."

While Herrera is very fortunate, he still has a long recovery ahead of him.

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