[UPDATE] Living life to the fullest after freak braai fire accident
An accident that could have cost two young men their lives is now only a tragic but distant memory as they celebrate their recovery and the road ahead.
It is hard to believe that it has been more than a month since Jaco Badenhorst and Marius Mathee were rushed to hospital with burn wounds covering more than 40 per cent of their bodies, caused by a freak accident.
On Saturday 18 May, everything changed for this family.
Jaco was at Marius and his sister, Kyla Steyn’s house, having a braai with them and some friends. Marius wanted to start a fire for the group to warm up while they enjoyed the rest of the evening.
What he did not know, however, was that there was a container containing a flammable liquid near the fire. During the evening someone had opened the container and did not close it properly.
When Marius tried to light the firelighters, the fumes from the container ignited and he and Jaco, who was standing next to him, were engulfed in the flames.
Read the original article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/380077/family-needs-funds-to-get-proper-care-for-braai-accident-victim/
Jaco and Marius eventually both jumped into the swimming pool to extinguish the fire but this was the start of a long road for them and their families.
News journalist Natasha Pretorius recently visited the two.
“I immediately ran to the pool and jumped in, then I tore my clothes from my body. I heard somewhere that your clothes can keep burning even after the fire has been put out,” explained Jaco.
His next step was to make sure that he did not have his phone on him. “I was afraid it would explode in my pocket,” he explained.
Photo: Facebook.
The cold air outside did soothe his burns but once indoors he suffered excruciating pain. The two of them put on clean clothes because they did not want to go to the hospital with open wounds.
Six weeks later the two’s recovery can only be described as a miracle.
Jaco had burn wounds over 43 per cent of his body and said that the service he received at Leratong Hospital was really good, despite the negative stories about this hospital doing the rounds.
Photo: Facebook.
Marius was in hospital for 28 days, and six per cent of his 49 per cent burns was internal. He was kept in a coma and was on oxygen just like Jaco.
The two of them are now focusing on healing completely.
Jaco will be returning to school in the third quarter and Marius will be returning to work in July.
Also read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/380291/update-a-ray-of-light-as-help-pours-in-from-community-for-braai-accident-victims/
One thing the two agree on is the overwhelming and completely unexpected support they received.
Jaco thanked his school, Hoërskool Noordheuwel, his previous school, Laerskool Kenmare and BackaBuddy for helping to raise funds to help them.
Marius thanked the team at the Netcare Milpark Hospitals Burn Wing and said they saved his life.
Kyla thanked every single person for every call, SMS or for just stopping by – especially Elma Steyn, whom Kayla described as a stranger who became a friend, and without whom she said she would not have stood strong.
“This whole event has opened our eyes and has made us thankful not only for our lives but for those we love as well,” said Jaco.
Photo: Facebook.
“We are more careful and we want to live our best lives,” added Marius.
