A 15-year-old boy from Guangzhou, China, suffered life-altering injuries after a home chemistry experiment ended in a powerful explosion, leading to the loss of one arm and severe damage to both eyes.
The incident occurred on April 6 in a residential building in southern Guangdong province. According to the South China Morning Post, the boy was conducting a self-initiated science experiment when the blast occurred, shaking the entire building.
He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where doctors found that his right eye had nearly lost all vision, while the left retained limited functionality. His father, Mr. Huang, revealed the skin around both eyes was completely destroyed. The teen will require a cornea transplant and skin grafts, in addition to an artificial limb due to the arm amputation.
“He had done experiments at home before. We never imagined something like this could happen,” said Mr. Huang. Despite not having studied chemistry formally—since the subject is introduced in the third year of secondary school in China—the boy had a keen interest in science and often explored it independently.
Authorities confirmed the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction initiated by the teenager, though the exact materials used remain unclear. A structural assessment of the building is underway to determine any damage from the blast.
In the wake of the tragedy, the local residential committee has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the teenager’s extensive medical treatment.