A woman was killed when a gender reveal stunt went wrong and a homemade device meant to shoot out coloured powder exploded like a pipe bomb.

Pamela Kreimeyer - reported to be the baby's grandmother - died instantly when debris hit her in the head at the party in Knoxville, Iowa on Saturday.

The parents had invited friends and family to their home to find out the gender of their soon-to-be-born baby.

Authorities said they had been experimenting with explosives in the hope of posting the elaborate stunt on social media.

They filled a metal cylinder with gunpowder they believed would fire the coloured powder into the sky. But police said that by covering the top of the cylinder it exploded like a pipe bomb, sending shrapnel flying across a field.


Ms Kreimeyer, 56, was 14m (45ft) from the device when it exploded - and the debris then flew a further 132m (432ft).

"This family got together for what they thought was going to be a happy event with no intent for anyone to get hurt," said Sheriff Jason Sandholdt.

"What ended up happening was that Pamela Kreimeyer, a wife, mother and grandmother, was killed by a piece of metal where a metal stand gunpowder and colored powder were involved.

"This is a reminder that anytime someone mixes these things there is a high potential for serious injury or death."