A man celebrating the July 4th holiday in Lauderhill was hospitalized after the powerful fireworks he was setting off caused severe injuries, officials said.
The incident happened Thursday night in the 8600 block of Northwest 45th Court, Lauderhill Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Jerry Gonzalez said.
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According to Gonzalez, the man was lighting a two-year-old mortar firework, the kind that is illegal in Florida, in a front yard when it exploded, causing a bad gash, lacerations, third-degree burns and hearing loss.
"He went to light it, he thought it was lit and he stepped back. It didn't go off," Gonzalez said. "He was approaching it again to check what was going on. He put his head directly over it and it fired right on his face."
Emergency workers responded and the man was rushed to Broward General Medical Center in very serious condition, Gonzalez said. He hasn't been identified.
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