Woman Narrowly Escapes Death After Wheelchair Explodes in Shocking Video

A Florida woman is being praised for her quick thinking after a terrifying moment outside her home was caught on camera—and it could have ended much worse.

Alexandra Anaya, of Hollywood, noticed something wasn’t right early Sunday morning when she heard a strange clicking sound coming from an electric wheelchair she had been charging for a relative.

Instead of ignoring it, she acted fast.

According to Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety, Anaya immediately wheeled the lithium battery-powered chair out of her house and onto the driveway. Moments later, that decision may have saved everything.

Ring doorbell footage captured the shocking sequence. As Anaya steps away, the chair begins to whistle—then suddenly erupts. A stream of sparks shoots out before the entire wheelchair explodes into a massive white fireball, lighting up the driveway in a split second.

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“Fire! Fire!” she can be heard shouting as flames and thick black smoke take over what’s left of the chair.

Investigators say the wheelchair had been plugged in using a non-manufacturer charger, which can cause lithium batteries to overheat or overload. Anaya told reporters she had touched the battery before the explosion and noticed it was unusually hot, prompting her to look up what might be wrong.

That quick check may have made all the difference.

Fire officials say her actions likely prevented a devastating house fire. “She saved her home and her family from catastrophe,” officials said, pointing to the warning signs she didn’t ignore.

The incident is now being used as a major reminder about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, which are found in everything from phones to mobility devices. When they fail, they can trigger what’s known as “thermal runaway”—a rapid, uncontrollable increase in temperature that can lead to explosions and even release toxic gases.

Officials are urging people to watch for warning signs like clicking, popping, hissing sounds, swelling, overheating, or a burning smell. If any of those happen, stop using the device immediately and move it to a safe, non-flammable area if possible.

They also recommend always using the correct charger, avoiding extreme temperatures while charging, never leaving batteries unattended, and calling 911 if there are signs of smoke or a potential battery failure.

In this case, a few strange sounds were all it took to signal danger—and one woman’s fast reaction turned what could have been a disaster into a close call.