A British man has died after a firework exploded in his face during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Thailand, local police have said.
Gary McLaren, 50, was reportedly ringing in 2020 with his fiance and friends in the seaside town of Pattaya when the tragedy unfolded just after midnight.
Lt Col Somboon Ua-samanmaitree of the Thai Tourist Police told the BBC: "Around midnight, Mr McLaren attempted to light up a large firework but it failed to go off at first.
“After that, it suddenly exploded and killed him at the scene."
Emergency services rushed to the scene where they found Mr McLaren lying on the ground outside a bar with serious facial injuries, the Bangkok Post reported.
Medics performed CPR but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Officers found a large firework which they took in for analysis as part of their investigations.
Eyewitness Wassana Ngontai, 24, told police Mr McClaren had been celebrating with friends at the bar before trying to light the firework outside the building but failing, according to the Bangkok Post.
Ms Ngontai said she noticed smoke coming from the firework while he was still in close proximity, then “suddenly, it exploded”.
Detectives said the British Embassy in Bangkok has been informed of the death.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand."
