A 25-year-old man in Perth is in critical condition after a robot vacuum cleaner explodes and starts a fire in his home in Brabham. Multiple reports say the incident occurs in the kitchen of the share house on Thursday night, when the everyday appliance allegedly ignites and then detonates. The man, Lachie Perrem, suffers life-threatening burns to about 75 per cent of his body and is rushed to hospital. One outlet reports he remains in intensive care and is expected to stay in hospital for at least the next two months while recovering.
Reports also describe significant damage to the residence, with the explosion and fire destroying the home and forcing his fiancé and housemates to leave. Investigators are probing the cause of the blast, with at least one source quoting that the event is surprising and frightening for those nearby. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the exact mechanism behind the ignition and explosion in the accounts provided.
