Horrific injuries of cousins set on fire in pub heater explosion after ‘drunk mate poured on ethanol for a laugh’
TWO women have been left with horrific injuries after a pub heater exploded when a drunk mate poured in ethanol “for a laugh”.
April Charlesworth, who was celebrating her 28th birthday, suffered shocking facial burns when a portable heater sprayed ethanol over her and her cousin.
She and children’s nurse, Ashleigh Charlesworth, were rushed to hospital and put on ventilators after the explosion in the pub garden.
April, of Sudbury, Suffolk, said: “A certain person, who was part of the group I was with, thought it was funny to keep filling the heater up with ethanol.
“He was in a bit of a drunken state, and we kept telling him not to do it.
“There was another member of our group who was stopping him from doing it – but then they went off to the toilet for just a minute, and everything happened so quickly.
“All I remember was my face just being on fire.”
I had someone chuck a bottle of wine over me and then I was taken to the toilet and had water splashed all over me.
April Charlesworth
April today released shocking photographs of her injuries, with her blistered and peeling face heavily bandaged as she lies in hospital.
The mum-of-one said it’s going to be a “long journey” to recovery, adding: “It’s my chest and my face which are the worst. My whole head is still bandaged up.
“Both my hands are still bandaged too, apart from a couple of fingers.
“I’ve had skin donor skin put on my face and my chest, which I’m told is working well.
“But it’s just a waiting game to see if I’ll need anything more done, like a skin graft.”
April added: “I haven’t spoken to the guy since who kept pouring ethanol into the heater.
“I haven’t even had a text or anything to apologise.
“He was able to walk out of hospital after just 36 hours, whereas here I still am 12 days later.”
April, who had been at the Kings Head pub in Great Cornard, Suffolk, with family said: “To begin with I didn’t remember anything.
“But I have been having flashbacks. I just remember me and Ashleigh being on fire.
“We were outside the pub having a drink. A bottle of ethanol exploded.
“I had someone chuck a bottle of wine over me and then I was taken to the toilet and had water splashed all over me.”
April was rushed to Bury St Edmunds Hospital before being put to sleep and transferred to Queen Victoria Hospital in London.
She was put on a ventilator and woke up four days later with serious burns to her neck, hands and face.
April said: “I am in constant pain. Some days are harder and some days are better than others.
“I have had my mum here with me every day. I wouldn’t have got through it without her.”
Friends have set up a GoFundMe page to support her recovery – which has raised over £4,000 in just three days.
‘LONG JOURNEY’
Her cousin Ashleigh has had skin grafts taken from her legs to treat the burns to her hands – but is still waiting to hear whether she needs surgery on her badly-burned face.
Pictures of her hands shows them heavily bandaged after being badly burnt in the horror explosion.
She said she is in “extreme pain and lucky to be alive”, revealing the agonising damage to her fingers, face and chest.
A separate fundraising page has also been set up for Ashleigh, which has raised over £3,000 since it was set up four days ago.
Suffolk Police say no arrests have been made, but a man has been voluntarily interviewed regarding the incident.
Ashleigh, 27, needed a skin graft on her hands. She also has to wear a special face mask to help heal her facial burns and prevent potential infection.
Ashleigh’s dad Paul Charlesworth said she’s been left in agony.
“Someone brought a heater to the pub but it exploded and Ashleigh and her cousin got sprayed in the face,” he said.
“They were badly burned and taken to hospital. Ashleigh was put on a ventilator for two days and needed operations on her hands.
“The doctors are trying their hardest not to do anything to her face as they hope the skin can heal itself.
“She’s having to wear a special mask on her face still as these types of burns can carry on damaging skin for days.”
Paul, 55, from Colchester, said it’s too early to know exactly how severe Ashleigh’s burns are.
He said: “She is in extreme pain and needs to have her skin chemically cleaned.
“What’s happened has only sunk in for Ashleigh over the last couple of days. It’s so unfortunate as she is such a hero who does so much for the NHS.”
Ashleigh worked as a nurse throughout the pandemic and has also administered Covid vaccines.
The horror happened on April 23, less than a fortnight after pubs and restaurants reopened outside spaces to customers after months of lockdown.
Neighbours reported hearing screams as the stove exploded in a fireball next to an outside table.
The gas-fuelled burner was taken to the pub garden by drinkers to keep themselves warm, witnesses said.
King’s Head landlady Sarah Bond said on the pub’s Facebook page: “The heating appliance was not one supplied by the pub, but was brought onto the premises without our knowledge.
“At the moment, we have three of our customers with serious injuries, potentially life changing.
“Our focus is on supporting the enquiry that is taking place while keeping them, and their families, at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
A Suffolk Police spokesperson said: “The two females remain in hospital receiving treatment for their injuries. Their condition is described as stable and their injuries are life-changing.
“No arrests have been made.
“However, a man has been interviewed voluntarily regarding the incident. Enquiries are ongoing in regards to the circumstances.”