Teenager’s thumb left hanging by a thread after firework explosion

Rio Diveney lit a huge industrial-style firework, which left him with horrific injuries (Pictures: MEN Media)

A teenager nearly lost his thumb after a firework blew up in his hand.

Rio Diveney, from Oldham, needed pins inserted into his thumb, before doctors stitched it back on.

The 16-year-old lit the huge industrial-style firework, which cost £25, after a friend gave it to him on October 22.

But the explosion knocked him out for 20 seconds and when he woke up he discovered his hand was left ‘in pieces’.

Rio said in an interview with ITV: ‘I can’t do things – my Dad has to help me do everything.

‘I am right-handed, it’s stopped me from doing most things. I have been very lucky.

‘Doctors have said I could’ve lost my first finger, my thumb, they said it could have been my face. It could have been my heart where my stitches were.’

Rio Diveney, 16, spent four nights in hospital and will now need months of further treatment before the use of his hand is restored (Picture: MEN Media)

He needed pins inserted into his thumb, before it was stitched back onto his hand (Picture: MEN Media)

Rio also suffered burns to his chest, arms and abdomen.

After he was rushed to the Royal Oldham Hospital by the mother of one of his friends, he was later transferred to Wythenshawe Burns Unit for further treatment.

The horror unfolded at Roundthorn Road, Oldham, after Rio’s friends had retrieved a rocket that had failed to explode.

The teenager spent four nights in hospital and will now need months of further treatment before the use of his hand is restored.

His dad Ricky, 37, explained: ‘They had taken the rocket apart with the gunpowder out of it and Rio’s gone down there and decided to light it.

‘But it exploded immediately, damaging his hand and ruining his clothes.’

Rio has spoken out about his ordeal as part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s ‘Bang Out of Order’ campaign (Picture: MEN Media)

Rio has spoken out about his ordeal as part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS) ‘Bang Out of Order’ campaign.

He said: ‘I’ve been very lucky, I could’ve lost my hand completely, or the use of it, but I have been told I will regain the full use of it.

‘I’ve learnt that if someone offers you a firework, don’t take it. Think about what can actually happen.

‘As a family, we don’t normally have our own fireworks, we attend organised displays. I will never mess with fireworks again.’

Firefighters have warned ahead of bonfire night that anyone wanting to put on a display at home should only buy fireworks from reputable dealers and follow the firework safety code or, better yet, go to an organised public display.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.