Miracle update for Aussie tradie who nearly died after his robot vacuum exploded inside his home – as he leaves hospital for the first time

DAILYMAIL.COM • 3h ago

By JOANNA HYNDS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA 00:35 14 Oct 2026, updated 00:36 14 Oct 2026

An Australian tradie who was left fighting for his life after a robot vacuum cleaner exploded inside his home has finally been discharged from hospital after months of treatment.

Lachie Perrem, 25, had his vacuum running when the device suddenly erupted into flames inside his home on Airgate Close in Brabham, in Perth’s north-east, on July 2.

He was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital with burns to 75 per cent of his body and has since undergone at least four surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.

On September 5, his mother, Fiona Perrem, revealed he had finally been discharged from hospital in an update shared on the family’s GoFundMe page.

The post included a photo of her son standing outside the hospital’s State Adult Burns Unit with long black bandages covering his arms.

‘We have some amazing news. Lachie has officially been discharged from hospital!’ she said.

‘After everything he has been through and so many surgeries, seeing him finally home is such an incredible feeling.

‘He still has a long road ahead, with dressing changes a couple of times a week and plenty of healing and recovery still to come, but being home is a huge milestone.’

Ms Perrem added: ‘We are so incredibly proud of how far he has come. His strength, determination and courage throughout this whole journey have been nothing short of amazing.’

She also shared how grateful she was to those who had supported Lachie and the family throughout his recovery.

‘Thank you to everyone who has supported Lachie and our family, sent messages, donated, checked in and kept him in your thoughts. We will never be able to thank you enough,’ she said.

Mr Perrem’s previous surgeries included the removal of dead tissue and skin grafts to his fingers, left elbow and torso. He temporarily lost his voice and was in an induced coma.

Photos and video taken after the explosion show windows blown out and walls blackened by the blast.

The damage stretched from the kitchen into the living room, with furniture destroyed, floorboards charred and debris scattered through the home.

In July, his mother explained in an update to the GoFundMe that there had been an issue with the vacuum that had caused the explosion.

‘He had a robo vac and, unbeknownst to him, the battery had a leak,’ she said.

‘When he started cooking, something ignited and caused an explosion. He was at the forefront of it all.’

The device was sent to the state’s Building and Energy division for further investigation.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services Western Australia said lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in robot vacuum cleaners, can be dangerous because of their highly flammable materials.

‘When lithium-ion batteries fail, they can undergo thermal runaway, which can be violent bursting of one or multiple battery cells, hissing and release of toxic, flammable and explosive gases and an intense, self-sustaining fire,’ DFES said.

‘Thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries can happen very quickly and be very dangerous. It may cause toxic smoke, flames and battery pieces to explode.’

Battery fires have become increasingly common in recent years, particularly involving e-scooters and e-bikes.

‘To prevent an incident involving lithium-ion batteries, only purchase and use devices and equipment from reputable manufacturers and suppliers,’ DFES said.

Although there had been four vacuum cleaner fires in the past two years, this was the first reported incident involving a robot vacuum cleaner, it said.

Mr Perrem’s fiancée, Bri Thompson, who was left homeless by the explosion, said she was struggling to come to terms with what had happened, describing the days that followed as ‘completely unimaginable’.

‘Our entire life has changed in a matter of moments, and everything has been incredibly intense and overwhelming,’ she said.

Before the incident, while working as a tradie, Mr Perrem ran the charity The Tradie Vault, which was focused on building a community to support mental health.

‘Lachie and business partner Harley used their platform to raise awareness of men’s mental health and encourage people to look out for one another,’ the family said.

‘Those who know Lachie know that The Tradie Vault is a reflection of those values.’

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