Man seriously injured when e-cig explodes in his face

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - A man is in the hospital after an e-cigarette exploded in his face.

29-year-old Cordero Caples is a Memphis native living in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Caples is in critical condition with a shattered vertebrae. He have to have surgery to give himself a chance to walk again. He also has multiple fractures, a hole in his mouth, and a broken neck.

His family said Caples was smoking an e-cigarette on his work break Friday when it blew up in his mouth.

"At this time he's actually in surgery as a result of an e-cigarette device exploding in his mouth damaging his teeth," Caples' sister Colessia Porter said. "It knocked his teeth out, created facial fractures for him, and his neck is broken."

Porter said he took on the first of many surgeries Sunday afternoon. Doctors began an extensive spinal reconstruction, lasting several hours.

"Any sudden move can cause him to be in a paralyzed state, and that is something we done want," Porter said. "He's going to need 24-hour care for a while and constant monitoring from family and friends and loved ones. You know it is heart breaking, but we're going to bond together."

According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, emergency crews responded to the medical call at his job, and the incident is still under investigation.

"This E-cig almost took my brother's life," Porter said. "And at this point, we don't know what his status is going to be moving forward."

Caples, who was studying to be a personal trainer, is the father of a 1-year-old girl.

The accused maker of the e-cigarette that exploded is based in China.

The hospital confirmed Caples is in fair condition following surgery.

A GoFundMe page was created to help pay for Cordero's medical expenses. Click here to donate.

Copyright 2015 WMC Action News 5. All rights reserved.