A New Year celebration went horribly wrong after German TV presenter Andrea Plewig lit a firework that detonated prematurely and flew into her eyes
The 55-year-old presenter has also undergone a course of chemotherapy(Image: Jam Press)
A TV presenter has called for a total ban on fireworks after a New Year’s caccident that left her seriously injured. Andrea Plewig, 55, host of the entertainment show Astro Royal, was rushed to hospital after a firework she had ignited at home went horribly wrong, resulting in the loss of her left eye.
Speaking about the incident, Plewig described how she had prepared the fireworks with care. “I unpacked the fireworks, prepared the fuses, and I had a flashlight with me. The children were always at a safe distance,” she said.
However, she explained, a rocket launched prematurely and struck her in the eye, causing her to collapse in agony.
The accident came shortly after Plewig had undergone a gruelling course of chemotherapy following a breast cancer diagnosis. She was taken to hospital by ambulance, where doctors were unable to save her injured eye. Despite her personal ordeal, Plewig is now campaigning for stricter regulations on private-use pyrotechnics and supports the “No To Fireworks” initiative.
Doctors were unable to save Andrea’s eye(Image: Jam Press)
In the UK, the movement is backed by organisations including The Firework Campaign UK, the RSPCA, and Help for Heroes. Advocates are calling for tighter laws to minimise the impact of fireworks on animals, veterans, and vulnerable people, including a ban on public sales, lower noise levels, and limiting pyrotechnic displays to licensed public events.
Similar campaigns around the world have generated thousands of signatures, with around 200 petitions active in the UK alone, some attracting as many as 190,000 supporters.
Plewig has said she would like to see an outright ban, describing fireworks as “dangerous” and highlighting the “unforeseen consequences, not just for us humans, but also for nature, for animals.”
Andrea presents a celebrity gossip show on German TV(Image: )
She has received support from close friend and fellow TV presenter Vera Int-Veen, 58. “When I heard about Andrea’s terrible accident, I was deeply shocked and just went into autopilot,” Vera said.
“Not only my partner and I, but our entire circle of friends are there for Andrea. We all accompanied her through her cancer diagnosis over the past year and a half, and we are going through this difficult time together now.”
Plewig recently received the all-clear following her breast cancer treatment but still requires surgery. The presenter’s call for stricter fireworks legislation highlights ongoing concerns about the risks posed by private pyrotechnic use, particularly in domestic settings.