Washington teenager loses hand in fireworks accident while protecting small children

AUBURN, Wash. – A 19-year-old lost his right hand in a fireworks accident on July 4 while trying to save two young children from injury.

“I was one of those horror stories that people always told me: ‘Stay away from the fireworks or you’ll blow your hand off.’ And that’s exactly what happened, literally,” said Ryli Baumgartner.

Baumgartner’s story is different. He was at a family friend’s Fourth of July party where fireworks were being set off. He said someone there was drunk and threw a sparkler bomb.

“When I saw them light the gun and throw it a few meters in front of them, I immediately got scared and thought that as soon as the thing went off, they would be blind or dead,” Baumgartner said.

Baumgartner said two small children ran toward the fireworks. He then immediately jumped into action and grabbed the fireworks, but they exploded in his hand.

“I went to throw it and when I got there, boom. I looked down and there was nothing there,” Baumgartner said.

Paramedics took him to Harborview Medical Center, where surgeons had to amputate his injured right hand. He also suffered burns to his body.

“I put myself at the top because I would rather it be me than someone else,” Baumgartner said.

After five days he has now been discharged from the hospital and his recovery is just beginning.

“I have to learn to extend my arm all the way out, because if I don’t, I could lose full mobility in my arm. It will take a while for my brain to realize there is no hand there,” Baumgartner said.

Baumgartner’s life has changed forever. The doctors have certified that he is unfit to work for two months.

“I chose my job this way, I’m a lifeguard. I can’t do CPR without one hand. I can’t swim well with one hand,” Baumgartner said.

Baumgartner said he enjoys working with his hands and helping others, and now the accident is taking a toll on him physically and mentally.

“I’m at home and everyone is taking care of me and I don’t like that. I want to be able to take care of myself, I want to be able to get up and not hurt myself. I want to be able to tie my pants and my shoes,” Baumgartner said.

He also has a message about fireworks.

“When it comes down to it, it’s not safe and that split second can change someone’s life,” Baumgartner said.

He said there was one thing that helped him overcome the pain.

“Knowing that the children are OK is the only thing that keeps me going,” said Baumgartner. He hopes to get a prosthetic hand and will have to undergo years of physical therapy to get it.

His family has set up an online fundraiser to help with the costs of his recovery.