The incident occurred on Sunday at Point St. George Beach in Del Norte County, Northern California, where Jason Turner and his girlfriend were walking along the beach to pick up trash as part of their Fourth of July celebrations.
According to reports, Turner picked up a "bomb-like device that unexpectedly went off" while he was cleaning up debris, resulting in a significant injury to his hand.
Pamala, Turner's girlfriend, used her shirt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before first responders arrived, and Turner was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The Del Norte County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and found Turner in the parking lot with a "significant injury to his hand," prompting an investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Turner has since undergone surgery to amputate his hand and is waiting for additional surgeries, as well as treatment for vision and hearing loss caused by the explosion.
His daughter, Ashley, has set up a GoFundMe to help with his ongoing medical costs, citing the significant expenses associated with his treatment and potential permanent injuries.
As of Friday afternoon, nearly $100,000 has been raised to support Turner's family, who rely on him as the sole provider, with two of his children still in school.
The sheriff's office has launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion and issued a warning to beachgoers to exercise caution when encountering suspected explosive devices, urging people not to touch them and to contact law enforcement immediately.
