Teenager who suffered burns spanning half her body after playing with matches reveals she was patched up using DEAD people’s skin

A TEENAGER has revealed she was patched up with dead people’s SKIN, after suffering severe burns spanning more than half her body.

Alexandra Hollingsworth caught fire during a dangerous game involving matches and alcohol which she was playing with her older brother and cousin – when she was just 12 years old.

The American 18-year-old sustained severe burns to 52 per cent of her body, leaving her needing more than 20 operations.

Speaking of the moment her life changed forever, Alexandra said: “I felt like my skin and eyelids were melting.

“As we ran out of the house, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My arms were in shreds and skin was hanging off me.”

Alexandra has since had skin grafts on her elbows, legs, thighs, back, arms and stomach – using flesh from her own legs and from cadavers (corpses) on her chest.

The teen said: “At first, it was weird because it was so much darker than my skin tone.

“But my body’s not rejecting it and I don’t think about it unless someone asks.

“I have no idea who the donor is, I woke up and it was on my chest.

“I’m really grateful that I was able to get that because I needed it, and I’m happy that my body accepted it.”

Alexandra’s life-changing injuries occurred at her family home in Memphis, Tennessee, on July 20, 2010 – while her mum Sanjaya Singleton, 37, was out at her admin job.

She was playing with her brother David Singleton, then 14, who was also burnt, and cousin Benjamin Amaefule, then 16, who was miraculously uninjured.

Alexandra added: “We were being bad, stupid kids and playing on the first floor landing of our house with alcohol and matches.

“Some neighbourhood kids had shown us how to ignite a small flame, which previously we’d managed to put out with a towel – but this time it got out of hand.”

There was a sudden explosion, and Alexandra was engulfed by a ‘hot, orange light’. She heard a high-pitched ringing sound and realised she was on fire.

Alexandra ran into her mum’s bedroom and ripped off her trousers. She tried to take her shirt off too, but was scared of it burning her face.

Her brother David, now 19, and cousin Benjamin, now 21, smothered her in a blanket to extinguish the flames.

Alexandra said: “The entire house was covered in soot and smoke, and the floor of my mum’s room had caved in.”

Alexandra and David were rushed to Methodist South Hospital, by ambulance, before being airlifted to Shriners Hospital for Children, in Ohio.

Doctors discovered that Alexandra had suffered 52 per cent burns to her arms, stomach, back, thighs, hands and face – while her brother had 18 per cent burns to his chest and inner arms.

She fell into a coma and woke up days later with a tube down her throat.

Alexandra said: “My mum explained what had happened to me as I didn’t understand.

“I fell asleep again because I was on so much medication. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that I was properly awake and aware.”

Doctors cut off Alexandra’s hair to make sure her scalp wasn’t burnt, and she was wrapped in bandages.

Alexandra added: “I didn’t recognise myself when I looked in the mirror. I was hideous and embarrassed that other people had to see me like that.”

David did not need surgery and was discharged after a few weeks, but Alexandra stayed in hospital for two months – becoming increasingly depressed and even suicidal.

Their home was uninhabitable for four years, and for three years Alexandra had terrifying nightmares – which only stopped when her hair started to grow back.

Alexandra recalled: “Luckily I was home-schooled but when I left the house to go to the shop I could feel other kids pointing and laughing at me.

“I just wanted everyone to leave me alone.”

Alexandra still has days when she feels self-conscious, but says she mostly now thinks of her scars as ‘interesting’ rather than ‘hideous’.

She now works as a volunteer counsellor for burns survivors, adding: “I can really empathise with the kids and love working with them.

“Knowing what I went through definitely helps them to trust me. Fire is not something to be played with. It’s not worth it.”