‘My chest was on fire and flames engulfed my face’, says woman, 32, after gust of wind sparked tragedy
A WOMAN was left with severe burns after she was set alight when a gust of wind blew flames onto her face.
Beatrice Francovschi had travelled to a festival in Indiana, USA, for a fun weekend away with friends – but things quickly went awry.
The Milton Keynes native had taken up fire performing as a hobby and side business for the last three years and decided to put on a show at the campsite with another artist.
But it was only mere seconds later that tragedy struck, when wind blew one of her fuel-soaked fans, spraying vapours and fuel onto her clothes and body, setting her aflame instantly.
At one point, the 32-year-old feared she would die, having never had an accident whilst doing the hobby previously.
“I was in pain and shock but knew to keep calm, not to breathe in and to keep my eyes and mouth closed and to drop to the floor,” she said.
“My hand, arm, shoulder and chest were on fire and the flames were going up over my neck, face and head.
“Luckily I had recently had a shower and my hair was wet so it didn’t catch fire.”
Nearby bystanders rushed to her aid, dousing the flames in a matter of seconds before Beatrice was rushed to hospital with extensive injuries.
The systems analyst was airlifted to a specialist burns unit, where she was treated for second and third-degree burns which covered 20 per cent of her body and face.
Doctors were initially concerned that the inflammation around her neck could lead to breathing difficulties, so they decided to incubate her for safety.
“When they intubated me, I thought, ‘Am I going to die?’ It was terrifying,” she recalls.
She said the hospital staff were “amazing”, but now she has been lumbered with a set of huge medical bills.
Beatrice claimed the fuel used in the US is more dangerous than the UK, causing her to sustain burns on 20 per cent of her body in just a few seconds.
She said: “I’ve been doing fire performing as a hobby and side business for three years and have never had any accidents or burns and don’t know of anyone else who has.
“Unfortunately I didn’t know that the fuel was so different to what I am used to using in the UK and it is a lot more volatile and flammable with a higher burn temperature as well as flammable vapours.”
Due to the nature of Beatrice’s accident, her insurance company isn’t going to cover medical costs – leaving her in potentially huge debt.
‘Astronomical’ medical bills
Best friend Kali Tattersall has since launched a GoFundMe to help cover Beatrice’s medical bills after she is discharged.
Just over £2,000 of the £15,000 goal has been raised to help cover Beatrice’s medical bills so far.
Kali said: “It’s going to be astronomical. We have no idea how much it’s going to be.
“From what we’ve seen online, it’s an insane amount of money for standard things.
“She’s in a specialist unit and had a helicopter ride. It could be hundreds of thousands.”
How to treat burns and scalds
Burns are damage to the skin usually caused by heat.
usually caused by heat.
They can be very painful and may cause:
- Red or peeling skin
- Blisters
- Swelling
- White or charred skin
The amount of pain you feel is not always related to how serious the burn is.
Even a very serious burn may be relatively painless.
Treating burns and scalds
To treat a burn, follow the first aid advice below:
- Immediately get the person away from the heat source
- Remove any clothing or jewellery
- Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes
- Make sure the person keeps warm
- After cooling the burn, cover the burn by placing a layer of cling film over it
- Use painkillers
- Raise the affected area if possible
- If it’s an acid or chemical burn, dial 999
When to get medical attention
Depending on how serious a burn is, it may be possible to treat it at home.
For minor burns, keep the burn clean and do not burst any blisters that form.
More serious burns require professional medical attention.
You should go to a hospital A&E department for:
- All chemical and electrical burns
- Large or deep burns – any burn bigger than the injured person’s hand
- Burns that cause white or charred skin – any size
- Burns on the face, neck, hands, feet, any joints or genitals
If someone has breathed in smoke or fumes, they should also get medical attention.