Lachie Perrem, a man in his 20s, is fighting for his life after a robot vacuum cleaner explosion caused a fire that destroyed his share house in Brabham, Perth. The incident occurred on Thursday, 2 July, when a fault in the robotic vacuum triggered the blaze.
Explosion and injuries
Perrem sustained life-threatening burns covering approximately 75% of his body and is sedated at Fiona Stanley Hospital. His mother, Fiona, stated on a GoFundMe page that he faces multiple surgeries, extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and months of recovery. According to the South Metropolitan health service, he remained in critical condition as of Tuesday evening.
Cause of the fire
Investigators from the state department of fire and emergency services determined the fire was accidental, caused by a fault in the robotic vacuum cleaner. This is the first reported case of a robotic vacuum cleaner fire, although four fires involving standard vacuum cleaners have occurred in the past two years. The device has been sent to the state's building and energy office for further investigation. It remains unclear whether the fault was in the vacuum's electrics or its lithium-ion battery.
Impact on family and friends
Perrem's fiancee, Bri Thompson, described him as "the most giving person there is" and said he is "fighting the biggest battle of his life." The fire destroyed their home, leaving Thompson and their housemates displaced. Perrem's social media project, "The Tradie Vault," which promoted mental health awareness, has been paused during his recovery.
Fundraising efforts
A GoFundMe campaign launched by Perrem's mother on Saturday aims to cover his recovery costs, car repayments, and housing expenses for his fiancee and housemates. By Tuesday evening, the fundraiser had surpassed $26,000.
