A Northern California man is recovering from severe injuries after an object he picked up on a beach exploded in his hand, according to local authorities and a fundraising page set up by his family.
The incident happened Sunday afternoon at Point St. George Beach near Crescent City. The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews responded to reports of an explosion and found a man conscious but badly hurt. He was rushed to a hospital in Crescent City for treatment.
The man has been identified by his family as Jason Turner of Klamath. According to a GoFundMe campaign started by his daughter, Ashley Turner, Jason was walking along the beach with his girlfriend, picking up leftover fireworks debris to help keep the area clean, when he came across what looked like a discarded firework. When he picked it up, it detonated.
The blast caused catastrophic damage to his hand, which doctors were ultimately forced to amputate. Turner also suffered vision and hearing loss, and it remains unclear whether either will improve over time. His girlfriend, who was nearby when the explosion occurred, was not hurt.
Family Describes Ongoing Medical Struggles
In an update posted to the fundraiser this week, Ashley Turner said her father now faces additional surgery, this time related to his eyes. She wrote that doctors found metal fragments lodged in his eyes, along with bleeding behind his left eye. She also said his right eardrum was ruptured in the blast, leaving him without hearing on that side.
The family says Turner is the sole financial provider for a household of seven people, including two children still in school. With him unable to work during a lengthy recovery, relatives say the costs of travel to medical appointments, prescriptions, and temporary housing near treatment centers are mounting quickly.
As of this week, the GoFundMe campaign had raised nearly 97,000 dollars toward a 130,000 dollar goal, drawing more than 1,500 individual donations.
Investigators Point to Homemade Fireworks
The Del Norte County sheriff’s office told the San Francisco Chronicle that investigators believe the object was a homemade firework left behind, possibly from Fourth of July celebrations days earlier. Leftover or malfunctioning fireworks are a recurring hazard on California beaches following the holiday, and authorities regularly warn residents not to touch unfamiliar debris that could still be active.
No further details on the ongoing investigation have been released, and officials have not said whether anyone will face charges related to the device. Turner’s family says they are focused on his recovery and are grateful for the outpouring of community support since the accident.
