Man Loses Hand in Fireworks Explosion on California Beach

A man cleaning up Fourth of July fireworks on Point St. George Beach in Northern California suffered the loss of his hand after an explosive device detonated.

On Sunday, Jason Turner was out with his girlfriend, Pamala, intending to pick up litter. According to a GoFundMe page set up by his daughter Ashley, he unexpectedly picked up what was later described as a “bomb-like device” that exploded.

Pamala recounted that she quickly used her shirt to apply a tourniquet to combat Turner’s bleeding before paramedics could arrive.

The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office stated they responded to reports of an explosion. Upon arrival, they found Turner in the parking lot with severe hand injuries.

Ashley later shared that her father had to undergo an amputation of his hand and was waiting for additional surgeries. The explosion also left him with vision and hearing problems. “My dad is scheduled for more eye surgery because there’s a piece of metal stuck in his eye,” she noted in an update. “His right eardrum is ruptured, and he has lost his hearing,” she added.

Besides enduring these injuries, the fundraiser highlighted that Turner is the sole provider for a family of seven, with two children still in school. As of Friday, approximately $100,000 had been raised to assist with his ongoing medical costs, with the reality that some injuries may be permanent looming over the family.

The Sheriff’s Office has begun an investigation to determine what caused the explosion and has advised the public to avoid touching any suspected explosives, urging them to maintain a safe distance and report any such findings to law enforcement.