HOUSTON, TX (KTRK/CNN) - A man says his e-cig exploded in his pocket and covered him in flames.
Andy Veal went to the emergency room with first-degree and second-degree burns.
"All of a sudden something exploded in my pocket," he said.
The moment was captured on video - a flash of fire then Veal hit the floor.
"My pants were on fire, and I couldn't get out of my pants fast enough," he said.
The e-cigarette battery was in his pocket when he said it blew up, burning his outer thigh and hand.
"It shouldn't happen, and I'd like to look into why it happened and how they can prevent it in the future," Veal said.
E-cigarette battery mishaps are not common, but they do happen. Similar lithium-ion batteries have been linked to exploding smartphones, laptops and hoverboards.
"If this happened while I was driving it would have been a lot worse," Veal said.
Vaping has kept Veal from smoking for 4 years, but he doesn't want a repeat.
"I'm going to be a lot more careful from now on," he said.
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