Perth man critically injured after robot vacuum explodes

A Perth man, Lachie Perrem, suffered burns to about 75% of his body when a robot vacuum exploded in his Brabham home on July 2, after a leaking lithium‑ion battery reportedly failed during cooking. The blast destroyed the rental and left him in an induced coma for weeks, with multiple surgeries including skin grafts and wound debridement. The incident prompted a formal investigation of the vacuum, with the device sent to authorities and officials noting the dangers of lithium‑ion batteries and possible thermal runaway. His mother, Fiona Perrem, has shared new details of what happened and provided positive recovery updates, including the removal of his feeding tube and progress in healing his face, neck, and hands. A GoFundMe drive has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help cover medical and living expenses as the family navigates a long road to recovery. Perrem woke from the coma earlier in July and has begun communicating with his family and medical team as his condition improves.