“I think I’m going to die now.” Those were the last words a seven-year-old boy spoke after a blast from an explosive device detonated near him on New Year’s Eve. He then lost consciousness. His sister, Cansu Karki, shares her family’s story nearly a year after the tragic incident in Berlin, and details her brother’s ongoing recovery.
A Night of Explosions
The night of December 31st, 2024, saw multiple serious incidents involving explosive devices in Berlin. Windows were shattered in a residential building, and several people were injured. Across Germany, five men died in firework-related accidents, one of which involved an explosive device.
“Explosive devices are not normal fireworks. They are explosives that can kill and threaten lives,” Karki, a doctor at the Charité hospital, told the German Press Agency. Her brother underwent more than 40 surgeries. “We eventually stopped counting.” The family needed considerable time before they felt able to publicly discuss the events, the harrowing hours in the hospital, the fear for his survival, and the months spent in intensive care – and their anger.
A Devastating Injury
Karki was not present during the incident. She received a phone call shortly after midnight: “Please come to the emergency room immediately. Your brother is not doing well.” She rushed to the hospital, learning the full extent of what happened from her mother days later.
The boy had been celebrating New Year’s Eve with his parents, 22-year-old brother, and his brother’s wife. The family, comprised of four siblings, had gathered outside as they did every year to watch the fireworks. The Emstaler Platz, located in Tegel, a northern district of Berlin, is surrounded on two sides by residential buildings and shops.
According to Karki’s mother’s account, there was a loud explosion, followed by complete darkness. “My mother immediately screamed for my brother and only saw him fall to the ground,” Karki recounts. A second explosion followed shortly after. The explosive device detonated between the boy’s legs.
The boy nearly died from the force of the blast. “He had lost so much blood that he almost bled to death on the scene,” said Martina Hüging, a pediatric surgeon at the Universitätsmedizin Charité and one of the treating physicians. Bystanders immediately attempted to revive him before he was quickly transported to the Charité’s emergency room. Dr. Hüging noted that the hospital’s proximity likely saved his life, suggesting the outcome could have been different in a more rural area.
Dr. Hüging described the boy’s injuries as the most severe she had ever seen from fireworks. His legs were severely lacerated, with muscles and bones exposed and fractured, accompanied by burns and open wounds on his hands. He required over a month in a medically induced coma, supported by a ventilator and a tracheostomy. A colostomy was also necessary due to the extensive wounds. The initial focus was on stabilizing his condition and attempting to save his legs – both of which the medical team successfully achieved.
A Long Road to Recovery
The boy awoke from the coma at the end of January and spoke his first complete sentence in February: “I’m hungry for a burger.” He then began to ask questions: “Why do my legs look like that? Why did it hit me?” His sister says he is a remarkably mature child for his age and quickly grasps information. The family gradually explained what had happened, and he remembers the initial blast but nothing afterward.
A 17-year-old is currently under investigation for allegedly igniting the explosive device in a glass fiber plastic tube amidst a crowd shortly after midnight. An investigation was conducted in January, and the investigation remains ongoing. The family feels the case is not being prioritized quickly enough.
Now eight years old, the boy has made a remarkable recovery. He was discharged from the hospital in April after four months and underwent rehabilitation. He has since returned to school. “He’s doing well, thankfully,” Karki says. “He’s very cheerful, active, laughs a lot, and always has a lot to say.” He can walk again and no longer needs a wheelchair, though scars remain on his legs. He is more anxious than before and sleeps with a nightlight. He regularly attends the Charité’s trauma clinic.
He will require lifelong follow-up care and potential further surgeries to manage the scarring on his legs, but Dr. Hüging states, “He will be able to lead a self-determined, independent life.”
Karki views her brother’s injuries not as fate, but as a failure of political responsibility to ensure public safety. She calls for greater awareness and education about the dangers of explosive devices. “I just don’t want another child or another family to go through what my brother and our family have experienced.” This year, the family will celebrate New Year’s Eve abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of device caused the boy’s injuries?
The boy was injured by an explosive device, referred to as a “Kugelbombe,” which is significantly more powerful than standard fireworks.
How many surgeries did the boy undergo?
The boy underwent more than 40 surgeries, according to his sister, Cansu Karki. The family eventually stopped counting the exact number.
Is anyone facing legal consequences for the incident?
A 17-year-old is under investigation for allegedly igniting the explosive device, and an investigation was conducted in January, but the investigation is still ongoing.
What steps can be taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future?
