We report an extremely rare event where the use of diathermy to enter the peritoneal cavity caused the free gas within it to ignite and consequently burn the surgeon during a standard right hemicolectomy procedure for a Default caecal perforation.This should be noted as a possible safety concern intraoperatively.We conclude that sharp dissection should always be used initially when entering omega-3 the peritoneal cavity where free gas is present, cautery can subsequently be used once the free air has escaped.