Man blows himself up after smoking while attached to ventilator

A CHRONIC smoker blew himself up when he lit a cigarette while using an oxygen ventilator to help him breathe.

The 75-year-old man was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong on Sunday with severe facial burns after lighting up in his home while the ventilator's plastic tubes were still running to his nose.

The man relies suffers from lung disease, caused by his smoking, and relies on the oxygen tank to stay alive.

The South China Morning Post reported the man's doctor said the man knew he shouldn't smoke while the ventilator was going, but took the risk because his cigarette craving was so intense.