Firework mortar burns expectant father at Longuesse baby shower, investigation underway

A celebration meant to announce a baby’s sex turned into a medical emergency in Longuesse, where a firework mortar detonated at a private home and struck the expectant father in the face. About 40 people were gathered at the pavillon on rue du Moulin, near Cergy, when the blast went off at about 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

The mortar exploded immediately after ignition, leaving no buffer between the ignition and impact. The future father suffered very serious burns on one side of his head, with a possible cheekbone fracture and an eye injury also reported. He was evacuated in absolute emergency to Hôpital Cochin in Paris.

His partner, who was six months pregnant, was not physically injured but was hospitalized at Hôpital de Pontoise after being badly shocked. Three other guests were treated for shock, and the victim’s parents were examined by responders after feeling faint but stayed on site. The sapeurs-pompiers du Val-d’Oise and local authorities were involved as the scene was secured and the investigation began.

Mayor Norbert Lalloyer said the blast was instantaneous and pressed for tighter limits on mortars used without knowledge or expertise. His warning landed against the backdrop of a village setting where a sudden fire could spread fast through surrounding agricultural land, turning a private celebration into a broader public danger.

The Longuesse incident also underscores why French safety authorities continue to warn against casual use of consumer pyrotechnics at private events. The Préfecture de Police says fireworks and mortars are explosive devices that can cause serious burns, blast injuries and fires, and its guidance notes that wind and dry conditions can carry debris and ignite surrounding material. In other words, the risk is not only to the person lighting the device, but to everyone gathered nearby.

Gender-reveal celebrations, imported from the United States, have become more common in France and often rely on colored fireworks or smoke to announce whether a child is a boy or a girl. In Longuesse, that modern party script collided with the reality of high-risk pyrotechnics. The result was a family milestone that ended with burns, hospital transfers and an inquiry into how a mortar intended for spectacle became an emergency within seconds.