KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — The explosion blew out the windows, lifted the roof and put a woman in the hospital. The cause: an over-inflated air mattress.
The automatic shutoff valve on the mattress pump apparently failed, police said. The mattress exploded at about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday in a small, attic apartment in the village of Ramstein, about two miles from Ramstein Air Base.
The 23-year-old German woman living in the apartment was hospitalized at St. Johannes hospital in Landstuhl with burn injuries to her head, according to a Landstuhl police spokesman.
The force of the explosion blew out windows and damaged roof tiles. When the fire department examined the roof the next day, they determined the roof was likely lifted by the explosion, based on the extent of the roof damage and cracks between the walls and the ceiling, according to a press release from the Rhineland-Pfalz police.
German police believe the explosion occurred after an automatic electronic pump the woman was using to blow up the air bed did not turn off after the maximum pressure was reached.
The incident caused an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 euros (about $68,000 to $96,000) in damage, according to German police.
German investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the explosion, said Andreas Petry, a Landstuhl police spokesman.
“At this time, many things are still unclear,” he said Monday.
In August, a similar incident was reported in Barver in Germany’s northern region. An air bed with an automatic pump exploded after a 41-year-old man repaired a hole in the mattress with flammable car tire sealant, according to the German news web site NDR. It’s believed that explosion was caused by a chemical reaction between the sealant and the streaming air from the pump. The incident caused about 150,000 euros (about $205,000) in damage, according to that Media
Ivation EZBed Twin Air Mattress With Frame amp Rolling Case Self Inflatable Blow Up Bed Auto ShutOff Comfortable Surface AirBed Best for Guest
EZ INFLATE Luxury Double High Queen air Mattress with Built in
Intex Dura Beam 11515 Deluxe Inflatable Air Mattress Bed w Built In Pump King
OlarHike Twin Air Mattress with Electric Pump Portable Air Bed
EnerPlex NeverLeak Camping Series Twin Camping Airbed with High Speed Pump Luxury Twin Size Air Mattress Single High Inflatable Blow Up Bed for Home
Sable Full Size XL Air Mattress with Builtin Electric Pump Inflatable Elevated Builtin Pillow Bed [15 Upgraded] Blow Up Airbed Height 15''
Ivation EZBed Full Size Air Mattress with Frame amp Rolling Case Self Inflatable Blow Up Bed Auto ShutOff Comfortable Surface AirBed Best for
EnerPlex NeverLeak Queen Air Mattress with Built in Pump Raised Luxury Airbed Double High Queen Inflatable Bed Blow Up Bed 15Year Warranty
Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress Queen Size Airbed WaveBeam Technology Builtin Electric Pump Premium Flocked Inflatable Airbed for Guest
Bestway 15in Air Mattress with Built in Ac Pump
Sleepah Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed Children Portable Air Mattress Set Blow Up Mattress For Kids WAll Around High Safety Bed Rails Indoor
EZ INFLATE Double High Luxury Twin Air Mattress with Built in Pump
EnerPlex Premium 15 Upgraded Dual Pump Luxury King Size Air Mattress Airbed with Built in Pump Raised Double High King Blow Up Bed for Home Camping
Twin Air Mattresses Bedroom Furniture The Home Depot
Queen size blow up air mattress