Boy Loses Hand, Possibly Legs After Fireworks Accident

Fifteen year old Ryan Stancell has lost his hand and most likely have to have both legs amputated after a fireworks accident Thursday night.

He is currently at Greenville Memorial with sever burns on his chest and will need skin graphs according to his mother. She said they do think he will survive.
Neighbor Perry Oakley said he felt the shock inside his house when the explosive went off, and ran to help.

“I was completely shocked out,“ said Oakley. “There was a nurse at the end of the road and if it wasn’t for her, I don’t know what the kid would have done. She got us to take our belts off and create tourniquets for him.“

Oakley said even more shocking, the explosion was caused by sparklers.

“It was a sparkler. Those are $.25 a box and most people would never think that would cause the damage that it was capable of,“ said Oakley.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said there were possibly more than 100 sparklers gathered together, creating what’s called a sparkler bomb. It creates tremendous explosive power, according to the Anderson County Fire Chief.

“Anytime you alter a firework and use it for anything it’s not supposed to be used for, it’s a recipe for disaster.“

The fire chief says the investigation is still open and charges could be filed, because it is against the law to alter an explosive device. He says the boy was with a 21 year old at the time.