Dennis Vanstone was severely injured in a caravan explosion at Cudlee Creek Caravan Park in May. Pictures: GoFundMe/7NEWS
A South Australian man’s simple mistake at home could have cost him his life.
A gas explosion inside the caravan Dennis Vanstone called home left him with severe burns to almost 80 per cent of his body.
He told 7NEWS he was working six days a week to make ends meet but living at the Cudlee Creek Caravan Park was still his only affordable option.
“I run myself ragged, and that’s where I ended up slipping up because I was so tired,” Vanstone, 39, told the news outlet.
After accidentally leaving the gas on, the simple task of boiling the kettle almost turned deadly.
Mr Vanstone suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body when a gas bottle exploded. Picture: GoFundMe.
He is slowly recovering from the incident. Picture: GoFundMe.
“I flick on the stove to put on the kettle and the whole thing ignited. All I seen was this fireball just coming towards my face,” he said.
“I’ve never seen nothing like it, the way the fire just balled up and it just came to me like a fireball.
“I just ran outside on fire, I just ran straight for the river, stumbled along the way.”
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His neighbours found him stumbling from the wreckage and quickly rushed to his aid, ripping off his clothing, until paramedics arrived.
“I remember looking at my hands and my skin was just melting,” he said.
“I honestly thought that was it.”
Mr Vanstone has already spent months in hospital after the May incident, with his elderly parents by his side, but he still has a long road to recovery ahead.
Mr Vanstone’s neighbours rushed to his aid when he fled his caravan on fire. Picture: GoFundMe/7NEWS
A fundraising page has been set up to help him rebuild his life. Picture: GoFundMe.
His parents have set up a fundraising page to help pay for the rising costs of his care and rebuild his life.
“After a week in ICU, induced coma and intubated he has come a long way but suffered severe burns to his hands, legs, face and body,” the fundraising page says.
“Dennis is still enduring skin grafts, debriding and physio.
“We are seeking funds to provide equipment and care as he learns to use his hands and move about.
“Being mid 70s, we are seeking this funding support so that we can help him become independent.”
Almost all of their $6500 goal has been raised so far.
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