A South Carolina father who lit a firework and placed it on top of his head as a gag was killed seconds later when it exploded, according to the local coroner and his family.
Allen Ray McGrew, 41, was putting on a fireworks show on the Fourth of July at a neighborhood party in Summerville and decided to "show off" with an extra prank, his wife told authorities, the Post and Courier reported.
Dorchester County sheriff's deputies quickly arrived after a frantic emergency call to find McGrew lying dead in the road.
Coroner Paul Brouthers told WYFF that the exploding firework caused massive head injuries that would have killed McGrew immediately.
McGrew, who was reportedly dressed up as Uncle Sam, had been "holding this firework over his top hat," wife Paige McGrew told the newspaper.
"I thought he was just showboating ... I didn't realize he had already lit it," she added.
She said her husband "loved this holiday. He was a patriot; he was proud of his son and he was excited to have a new daughter-in-law. He was living his best life."
