California man picks up explosive device on a beach during July 4 cleanup, loses hand

A man lost his hand when an explosive device detonated as he was cleaning up Fourth of July fireworks debris on a beach in Northern California.On Sunday, Jason Turner and his girlfriend, Pamala, were walking along Point St. George Beach in Del Norte County intending to pick up trash, according to a GoFundMe set up by his daughter, Ashley Turner.According to the online fundraiser, Turner picked up a “a bomb-like device that unexpectedly went off.”HERO IN BIRTHDAY SUIT GRABS HIS HOSE AND SAVES TWO HOMES FROM FOURTH OF JULY SMOLDERING FIREWORK FIREPamela then helped save his life by using her shirt as a makeshift tourniquet before running for help, Ashley said in a post on Facebook. The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on social media that their deputies responded to reports of an explosion at the beach. When they arrived, they found Turner in the parking lot with a “significant injury to his hand.”Ashley Turner said her father had to have his hand amputated and is waiting to undergo more surgeries. He is also dealing with vision and hearing loss as a result of the explosion, according to the GoFundMe post.AUSTRALIAN MOTHER HEALING WITH ‘BEAUTIFUL MESSAGES’ AFTER LOSING ARM TO SHARK ATTACK”My dad will be going into additional surgeries for his eyes. He has metal fragments stuck in his eyes,” Ashley Turner wrote in a Wednesday update. “His right ear drum is blown and he has no hearing out of it.”The fundraiser also explained that Turner is the sole provider for his family of seven, and two of his children are still in school.As of Friday afternoon, nearly $100,000 has been raised to help with Turner’s ongoing medical costs. His daughter said his injuries may be permanent.’PARCEL BOMB’ EXPLODES IN MONACO RESIDENTIAL AREA, LEAVING 2 CRITICALLY INJURED: REPORTSPamela later took to social media to condemn the beach trash and any illegal devices or weapons people may have created during the holiday weekend. “WE ARE NOW PAYING BECAUSE SOMEONE DECIDED TO MAKE A HOMEMADE MORTOR OR/ BOMB,” she said in a Facebook post.”This horrible accident should have never happened and could have been avoided!” she added in another post.It remains unclear whether Turner’s vision or hearing will fully return. The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office searched the beach and launched an investigation into what caused the explosion.”If you find a suspected explosive device do not touch it. Move away to a safe distance and immediately contact law enforcement,” the sheriff’s office said.Fox News Digital reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment.