Boy who lost four fingers in firework warns ahead of Bonfire Night

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 21:27 · Archive

Riley Luke, now 12, lost four fingers and part of his hand when a firework exploded in 2022, aged eight.

Riley Luke was eight years old when he and a group of friends found a discarded firework near their homes in Paisley, Renfrewshire. The children began passing it around and trying to light it. When the firework eventually lit while Riley was holding it, it stuck to his hand. As he tried to remove it, the firework exploded within seconds, resulting in the loss of four fingers and a significant part of his palm. His thumb was blasted back to his wrist.

Riley was taken by ambulance to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow where he underwent 14 hours of surgery. He then spent around two weeks in an induced coma in intensive care, with his hand stitched to his groin to help restore blood flow. He was released from hospital just a few days before Christmas 2022.

Now aged 12, Riley has recalled the difficulty of recovery, having to learn to write with his left hand and relearn basic tasks such as tying his shoelaces and eating. His father Scott Luke described the moment he learned of the accident when a man answered Riley's phone after he called him home for dinner, and later saw his son two streets away holding the man's hand, with his injuries clearly visible.

Ahead of Bonfire Night, Riley is issuing a powerful warning to other young people. He urges them to let their parents handle fireworks rather than risking their own safety. Scottish Fire and Rescue are supporting his message, encouraging caution around pyrotechnics during the festive season.

How it is being reported

• Boy who lost four fingers in firework blast issues Bonfire Night warningRiley Luke and a group of friends were messing about with a discarded firework when it exploded.BBC Glasgow And West · 29 Oct, 17:50
• Bonfire Night warning from schoolboy who lost four fingers in firework incidentRiley Luke, from Paisley, was just eight years old when he lost four fingers and part of his hand in the incident on November 7, 2022The Herald · 29 Oct, 14:49
• Boy who lost four fingers in tragic firework blast issues powerful warningPaisley boy Riley Luke, 12, lost four fingers in a firework accident aged eight. Ahead of Bonfire Night, he and Scottish Fire and Rescue urge safety.Glasgow Times · 29 Oct, 14:05

In this story: Riley Luke · Scott Luke · Paisley · Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow · Scottish Fire and Rescue

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