Police provide update after man dies in fireworks incident on Kalkallo property in Melbourne
A young man has been killed in a freak fireworks accident in Melbourne’s north on Christmas Day.
Police and the State Emergency Service (SES) were called to reports of a fireworks explosion on Pittsburgh Rd and Cloverton Blvd in Kalkallo at 9.10pm on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old from Whittlesea had lit the firework in a fenced-off construction site next to a housing estate when it exploded in his face, just metres from a friend.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.He suffered critical injuries but was declared dead at the scene a short time later.
A nearby CCTV camera captured a man, believed to be the teen’s friend, screaming following the detonation.
Acting Senior Sergeant Fiona Parvin said the “tragic” incident would be “extremely distressing” for the teen’s friends and family.
“It’s a day that they will never ever see the same way,” she said.
The teen’s devastated parents collected his vehicle from the scene on Thursday morning.
She said setting off fireworks was illegal in Victoria and warned members of the public not to buy them ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“Fireworks should not be handled by the public,” Parvin said.
“Don’t touch them, don’t pick them up, they are an explosive.
“They’re highly volatile .. they need to be handled by professionals.”
Police remain at the scene and are continuing to investigate exactly how the death happened.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Originally published on 7NEWS
