A 25-year-old Perth man is in critical condition after a robot vacuum cleaner allegedly malfunctioned and exploded, triggering a devastating house fire that left him with burns over 75 per cent of his body.
Lachie Perrem is expected to remain in hospital for at least the next two months as he undergoes extensive treatment and multiple surgeries following the explosion at his home in Brabham, northeast of Perth.
Sequence of Events
The incident occurred on Thursday, July 2, when Perrem was inside the kitchen of the home he shared with his fiancée and other housemates.
According to investigators, a fault in a robotic vacuum cleaner is believed to have caused the appliance to explode, igniting a fire that rapidly spread through the house.
The explosion blew out windows and sent flames from the kitchen into the living room, causing extensive damage throughout the property.
Emergency services rushed to the home after receiving reports of the blaze. Firefighters brought the fire under control while paramedics treated Perrem at the scene before transporting him to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth.
Doctors confirmed the 25-year-old suffered severe burns across approximately 75 per cent of his body. He remains in the hospital’s burns unit in critical condition, where he has undergone multiple operations and has been placed in a medically induced sedation.
Family members have not yet been able to speak with him due to the seriousness of his injuries.
Investigators have since confirmed that a fault in the robotic vacuum is the suspected cause of the explosion, although inquiries into the exact circumstances remain ongoing.
Perrem’s fiancée, Bri Thompson, and other loved ones have launched a fundraising campaign to help cover medical expenses and support his long recovery.
The freak accident has shocked the local community and serves as a reminder that lithium-ion battery-powered household appliances can pose a serious fire risk if they malfunction or become damaged.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion.
