A 10-year-old California boy lost part of his hand and suffered severe burns to his body after he picked up an illegal firework he found on the street that exploded after he lit it.
Edther Ocampo and his brother Dominic Ocampo, 11, were heading to their grandmother's home in San Juan Capistrano after soccer practice on Friday and spotted an object in an alleyway.
Curious, the siblings brought it home thinking it was a smoke bomb unaware that it was an undetonated, illegal firework. After lighting the firework, it exploded in Edther's hand, KTLA News reported.
The youngster lost three fingers and received severe burns, cuts to his face and internal injuries to his abdomen area that, his mother, Cynthia Garcia Huertas said, caused some damages to his organs.
He is currently in the intensive care unit at UC Irvine Medical Center. His older brother Dominic suffered multiple abrasions and second degree burns to his body but did not require hospitalization, the boy's aunt Alondra Leyva Herrera said in a GoFundMe.
Edther Ocampo, 10, has been in the ICU since the horrific explosion where he lost three fingers, and suffered severe burns, cuts to his face and internal injuries to his abdomen
Dominic Ocampo, 11, is Edther's older brother who was also wounded in the explosion
Edther's parents said they are grateful their son is alive, but his mom said seeing her son in so much pain has been heartbreaking.
'As a mom, I don't want to see him in any pain,' she said, in part. 'I'm trying to pray really strong with him. It breaks my heart, really, to see him,' ABC 7 News reported.
The day of the tragic incident, a neighbor heard the explosion and the boys' screams and ran outside of her home to find them both lying on the ground.
She called 911, and both boys were both rushed to the hospital.
Edther's parents are grateful their son is alive, but his mom, Cythnia Garcia Huertas, said seeing her son in so much pain has been heartbreaking
Edther's mom was told her son's hand had suffered extensive nerve damage and that doctors were trying to save his remaining two fingers and the rest of his hand, but were unable to in the end.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the object the brothers found was an 'unused aerial shell, a dangerous explosive that is often found in skyrockets that launch into the air,' the news outlet reported.
Officials further noted that the flash powder in the fuse, that contain approximately 50 grams in the shell creates an instantaneous violent explosion.
The sheriff's department said the exact location where the boys picked up the explosive is unknown at this time, but officials said it may have been around the train tracks.
'Our hearts go out to both boys and their families as they navigate what we can only imagine are very difficult recoveries,' said the sheriff's department in a statement, per the news outlet.
"We also want to remind our community about the dangers of these types of illegal fireworks. They can cause devastating injuries.
'If ever anyone in the community finds anything resembling an illegal firework or possible explosive, we ask them to call us immediately so our [Hazardous Devices Section} can safely handle and dispose of the explosive.'
The Ocampa family together during birthday parties and other family events
The boys' aunt Alondra Leyva Herrera wrote in a GoFundMe that her nephew has undergone multiple surgeries and has a long recovery ahead.
'He's like a ray of sunshine. He has that personality that everybody likes him, like that charisma,' his mother said.
'He's just a happy 10-year-old child, like, enjoying life, enjoying his passion, playing soccer.'
Edther's father is a painter and Cynthia, who works a medical assistant, recently left her job to take care of her son.
She wrote, 'We also kindly ask for continued prayers and thoughts during these difficult times. No amount is too small as it truly appreciated.'
As of Thursday, $13,153 was raised toward their goal of $22,000
