(Vacuum Explosion Leaves Young Man Fighting for Life. Photo by Daily Mail)
Disturbing footage has emerged showing the extensive damage left behind after a robot vacuum exploded inside a home, leaving a young man fighting for his life.
Lachie Perrem, 25, suffered burns to 75 percent of his body following the devastating incident on Airgate Close in Brabham, north-east Perth, on Thursday night.
He was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital in critical condition and is expected to undergo multiple surgeries, extensive medical treatment, and months of rehabilitation.
Video footage captured the aftermath of the explosion, revealing blown-out windows and walls scorched completely black.
The damage extended from the kitchen through to the living room, with furniture destroyed, floorboards charred, and debris scattered throughout the property.
Perrem had reportedly been vacuuming when the device suddenly burst into flames in his kitchen.
A spokesperson for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia (DFES) noted that although there had been four vacuum cleaner fires over the past two years, this marked the first reported case involving a robotic version of the appliance.
Perrem’s mother, Fiona, has since launched an online fundraiser as the family works to support his recovery.
In her appeal, she explained that while their focus remains on helping him survive and heal, life outside the hospital continues, with bills still arriving and financial obligations, including car repayments, still due.
She said the family hoped to ease as much of that burden as possible so that when he wakes and begins his recovery, he can focus entirely on healing rather than worrying about losing everything he has worked hard for.
She further revealed that the occupants of the home are now left without a place to live, adding that alongside his long road to recovery, the family now faces the heartbreaking task of rebuilding their lives from scratch.
She said donations would go toward living expenses, housing, and other essential costs during this extremely difficult period.
The fundraiser has so far raised over $20,000.
Perrem’s fiancée said she was struggling to come to terms with what had happened, describing the past few days as completely unimaginable, noting that their entire life had changed in a matter of moments and that everything had felt intense and overwhelming. The family has asked for privacy at this time.
According to the DFES spokesperson, four fire trucks responded to the blaze at 5pm on Thursday, with the fire extinguished and the area made safe by 7:15pm.
The department has classified the cause as accidental, attributing it to a fault in the robotic vacuum cleaner.
The device has since been handed over to the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety for further investigation.
It is understood that investigators are working to determine whether the fire originated from a fault in the lithium-ion battery or in the vacuum’s electrical components.