Additional Coverage:
- Student’s face ‘blown off’ in freak accident when he put his chewing gum in the wrong place (irishstar.com)
In a truly bizarre and tragic incident from 2009, a 25-year-old chemistry student in Ukraine met a horrific end when his chewing gum unexpectedly detonated in his mouth.
Vladimir Likhonos, a student with a keen interest in chemistry, reportedly had a peculiar habit: he would coat his chewing gum in citric acid to enhance its flavor. However, on this fateful morning, it’s believed Likhonos made a catastrophic error, mistakenly applying a highly explosive powder to his gum instead of the familiar tart compound.
Upon placing the gum in his mouth, the substance exploded with devastating force, tearing off his jaw and the lower portion of his face. Emergency services were called to the scene, but the severity of his injuries left them unable to help.
Police spokesperson Elvira Biganova addressed the media, confirming that approximately 100 grams of a suspected explosive powder, bearing a strong resemblance to citric acid, was discovered on the table where Likhonos had been working. “Anybody could have mixed them up,” Biganova stated, acknowledging the potential for a fatal mistake. She also noted that even seasoned officers were deeply shaken by the gruesome scene.
Due to the hazardous nature of the substance, a bomb disposal unit was called in, as specialists deemed it too dangerous to move. Unverified local reports at the time suggested the powder could have been up to four times more powerful than TNT.
Tatyana Kushnerova, an assistant officer with the local police department, indicated that investigators believe the explosion was instantaneous, occurring the moment the “chewing bomb” entered his mouth.
While initial reports placed the incident at a local university, other accounts suggest Likhonos may have already been expelled and was conducting experiments at his own residence. Irina Lisovskaya, deputy dean of the chemical engineering faculty, confirmed, “He got an A in chemistry, but his grades in other subjects were average. Yes, Vladimir was not a poor student, but he never graduated [as] he could not defend his diploma thesis and was expelled last year.”