A birthday celebration in Hanoi, Vietnam, turned into a terrifying ordeal when a woman suffered burns after hydrogen-filled balloons exploded near her face while she posed with a birthday cake. The shocking incident, which took place on February 14, has since gone viral after the victim, Giang Pham, shared her story on social media.
Birthday Celebration Takes a Dangerous Turn
Giang Pham was celebrating her birthday at a restaurant, where the venue was decorated with balloons. Wanting to enhance the festive atmosphere, she purchased an additional bunch of balloons to hold while taking pictures. As the event was wrapping up, she stood on stage with a birthday cake in one hand and the balloons in the other.
However, in a split second, the balloons accidentally came into contact with the lit candles on the cake, triggering a massive explosion. Flames erupted, briefly engulfing her face in fire. Shocked and in pain, Giang immediately dropped the cake and balloons, covered her face with her hands, and rushed to the bathroom to douse her face with water before being taken to the hospital.
Woman Shares Her Trauma After the Incident
Speaking about the harrowing experience, Giang revealed, “The incident happened six days ago, but only today did I calm down enough to review the process of the balloon exploding and causing my burns.” She admitted that the experience was deeply traumatic, and for days, she could not even bring herself to watch the video of the accident.
“I cried all day because I didn’t know what my life and work would be like after being burned on my face like that,” she added.
Doctors diagnosed her with first- and second-degree burns but assured her that there would be no permanent scars. However, they informed her that her skin color would take months to fully recover.
Danger of Hydrogen-Filled Balloons
Giang later discovered that the balloons she had purchased were filled with hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable. She noted that the seller did not warn her about the potential danger, likely due to the high demand for balloons during Valentine’s Day.
Sources By Agencies
