A fit builder claims he has been left with a hole in his lung after suffering horrendous injuries caused by a vape he bought in a corner shop. Roofer Alex Gittins says he thought he was going to die after getting an immediate reaction to buying the cheap device.
The 31-year-old told the Mirror that he ended up having an immediate operation where surgeons revealed the extent of the damage. Alex said that first of all he felt a nasty chemical taste in his throat, and then he seemed to have a ‘stitch’ in his side.
Alex’s condition went downhill very quickly after buying the device in County Durham on May 25. He went to A&E and an X-ray tests revealed a collapsed young.
The condition was so serious he transferred to James Cook University Hospital and underwent an operation, during which medics found a hole burnt onto his lung, which they said was caused by inhaling a chemical substance. Alex said: “I haven’t been inhaling anything other than vapes.
“I wasn’t doing anything strenuous at work, I was literally stood there with my foot on a ladder and had only been there for 5 minutes. I had done absolutely nothing. Next thing you know I’m laying in A&E thinking I was going to die.”
Alex claimed the vape may have been “counterfeit”, saying: “The vape didn’t look normal - it didn’t look right. It wouldn’t stand up and had a curved bottom. Normally you can stand them up.
“I’ve been to other shops, but this one did good deals on them so I started going there. They sell 6 for £20, but that only works out at £3.33. They don’t sound very legitimate for that price.
“When I phoned [the shop owner] he said it’s not his problem and not to contact him again.”
Alex now wants to raise awareness of the dangers of vaping, and expressed concern over how the industry is regulated.
He continued: “I was a fit and healthy person before. I worked as a roofer and went to work every day, Monday to Friday, sometimes from 6am to 6pm. But I’m always on the go, at 100mph, and had no lung conditions.
“This is what scares me, because I’m in good health. Picture someone who’s not - it’s going to do even more damage to them. Or someone who already had lung problems. I could understand if I had another health condition, but I don’t.
“People have accused me of lying but I beg to differ - I’m laying in hospital with a tube in my ribs, and I’ve been in for two weeks. But I’m not fussed about them because as long as it stops one person then I’ve done my bit.
“My story might discourage a kid from vaping and they might think twice.” Millions of illicit e-cigarettes have been seized by trading standards departments since the beginning of 2020,.
Freedom of information requests from The Guardian to 125 local authorities uncovered more than 2.5 million illegal and potentially harmful vapes have been collected over the last three years. More than 1,350,000 vapes were seized by trading standards at Hillingdon Borough Council in west London alone due to the area’s proximity to Heathrow – a major port of entry for the illegal trade.
These illicit e-cigarettes do not comply with UK legal regulations, meaning they could have higher nicotine concentration levels, contain banned ingredients or have oversized tanks for nicotine liquid. It has also been found that illegal vapes can contain high levels of lead, nickel and chromium.
