A Valley Stream man suffered devastating injuries to his hands in a fireworks accident on June 27.

The 44-year-old, who asked not to be named, says he and a friend saw kids playing with a mortar and fireworks, so he grabbed it from the children to save them from harm.

That's when he and his friend were injured.

“It happened so fast,” he said.

The two men were rushed to the ER at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset.

Dr. Syed Sayeed spent several hours operating on both men, who suffered fractures, torn tendons and tissues. The blast resulted in the amputation of the 44-year-old's left pinky.

The injured man said he's sharing his story as a cautionary tale to Long Islanders on the eve of the July Fourth holiday weekend. It comes as both Suffolk and Nassau counties are reporting a surge in illegal fireworks use.

“Be very, very careful. That's all I can say,” he said.