Father killed as he tried to launch firework called the 'Medieval Knight' from his CHEST: Second holiday display tragedy hits America after Disney worker died when he put rocket on his head

  • Justin Bartek, 30, was setting off fireworks while fishing in Colorado County, Texas with friends on Tuesday when he made a fatal mistake

A Texas man died Tuesday after setting off a firework on his chest.

Justin Bartek, 30, was fishing with friends and setting off fireworks on the Colorado River in Columbus when he made the fatal mistake, KPRC reported. 

He was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries.

According to KTRK, witnesses said the Bartek lit a large tube-type firework called the Medieval Knight from atop his chest.

Fatal mistake: Justin Bartek, 30, was fishing with friends and setting off fireworks on the Colorado River in Columbus when he made the fatal mistake of setting off a firework from his chest

Fatal mistake: Justin Bartek, 30, was fishing with friends and setting off fireworks on the Colorado River in Columbus when he made the fatal mistake of setting off a firework from his chest

Left behind: Bartek leaves behind a 3-year-old son and longtime girlfriend, Summer Jenkins

Left behind: Bartek leaves behind a 3-year-old son and longtime girlfriend, Summer Jenkins

The precise cause of death had yet to be determined.

Bartek leaves behind his 3-year-old son Braxton and long-time girlfriend Summer Jenkins. In the hours following Bartek's death, loved ones started a GoFundMe page to help Jenkins and the boy.

As donations started to come in, family member Erica Jackson recalled the special way he'd touched their lives.

'He just had an infectious spirit, whenever you met him you met a friend,' said Jackson. 'He was the light of many people's lives and the world to the people that knew him, and he would give the world to any that asked.'

Jackson said Bartek's spirit even shined through when he was on his mail route. 

'You don't see that smiling face coming at you and just waving and just giving you a nice little pep in your day,' said Jackson. 'I was driving by to go to the post office and I saw a postal truck, and just out of habit is to go wave and it wasn't him.'

'Medieval Knight': Witnesses said the Bartek lit a large tube-type firework called the Medieval Knight from atop his chest.

'Medieval Knight': Witnesses said the Bartek lit a large tube-type firework called the Medieval Knight from atop his chest.

Sad: Witnesses said the Bartek, here with his mother, lit a large tube-type firework called the Medieval Knight from atop his chest

Sad: Witnesses said the Bartek, here with his mother, lit a large tube-type firework called the Medieval Knight from atop his chest

Family hoped money raised on GoFundMe could go toward Braxton’s schooling. 

Bartek's was the second such death since July 4. The other victim, a 21-year-old former Disney World actor who played the Beauty and the Beast character Gaston, died after placing a mortar-type firework on his head.

Devon Staples, of Calais, Maine, was setting off fireworks with friends on Saturday night in the backyard of a friend's home when he was killed instantly.

While police maintain that Devon was trying to launch the firework off of his head, his brother describes the incident as 'a freak accident'. 

Devon said that his brother was holding a lighter which made the firework 'go off accidentally'.

Devon's mother says her son believed the firework was a dud.

Devon Staples played Gaston from Beauty and the Beast at Disney World
Devon Staples also worked as a dog walker in Orlando Florida

Disney prince: Cody said that his brother Devon lived in Orlando, Florida, where he worked at Disney World as an actor and a dog walker. He would play characters like Gaston (left) from Beauty and the Beast and entertain children as a variety of other personalities

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