Moment lorry driver’s vape battery explodes and bursts into flames after it fell out of his pocket as he reclined his seat

This is the shocking moment a man’s vape battery exploded, burning his hand and engulfing his body in flames.

Liam Moriarty, 33, a lorry driver, was waiting for collection in Dartford, Kent, when a spare battery exploded after falling out of his pocket.

Liam reclined his seat as the battery fell into the mechanism of his chair.

The chair’s mechanism caught the battery, causing it to explode, sending flames shooting towards Liam.

Liam, originally from south east London, said: “The reclining mechanism caught the battery, I was just lucky.

“There was a loud hissing sound and when I looked up, the flames rose up and burned my elbow.”

Liam Moriarty, a lorry driver, was waiting for a parcel in Dartford, Kent, when it happened.

Liam reclined his seat when the battery fell into the mechanism of his seat and disaster struck.

Liam’s truck is ADR equipped, meaning it is capable of hauling dangerous goods and has a fire extinguisher at the ready.

Lima put out the flames with a fire extinguisher and was able to save himself and the truck.

Liam said there was a bed and other flammable items nearby, meaning the taxi could have caught fire and destroyed the £130,000 truck.

Liam said: “The simple fact is that it was an ADR-equipped lorry and there was a fire extinguisher there.

The reclining mechanism of the chair jammed the battery, and a nightmare began inside.

Liam used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames and was able to save himself and the truck.

“On the gear side there is a bed, a seat and everything that can burn, it could burn.”

Fortunately, his injuries were not serious and the flames only slightly scorched his skin.

Liam said: “I was more worried about the truck, which was three months old.

“I won’t have a job and I’ll have to pay out a huge insurance premium. Each of these trucks costs £130,000.

“That would be huge.”