A man who suffered fourth-degree burns after his shirt caught on fire while cooking has opened up about his self-confidence journey following the horrifying accident.
Jeffrey Johns, 40, ended up with life-threatening injuries after his shirt caught ablaze while cooking some pasta, leaving him in a coma for three weeks.
Following the incident in June 2022, he spent six months in hospital slowly recovering from the near-fatal fiasco.
After five skin grafts, Jeffery has been left with intense scarring across his entire upper body, but he is "embracing" his skin now, as it encourages him to "keep on fighting", and he wants others to be more body positive too.
After posting a topless photo of himself on Twitter, the artist has received an "overwhelming" amount of support for his positive attitude, and he's now encouraging others to do the same and to embrace themselves.
Jeffery, from Bristol, said: "My sexy sexy scars, what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger? Right? Well, I'm the living embodiment of that for sure."
He added: "When I woke in the hospital I felt really scared, I was semi-conscious and was out of reality. I remember waking up and seeing my left hand, which is the one I draw and write with, covered in bandages and realising how serious it was.
"I had all sorts of treatments whilst in hospital. I had to learn how to walk again after being bedbound for months and had to have five skin grafts on my neck, arms, chest, and mouth.
"I do struggle with my skin still. I think everyone has doubts about their body, but I've decided to be kinder to myself. I want to tell people to keep on fighting, never give up fighting. I want people to embrace things that make them an individual.
"If scarring makes you an individual, and you can find a way to embrace your scars comfortably then go for it."
Jeffery had returned home from a concert when he decided to cook vegetables and pasta on his gas stove when he smelt burning, initially assuming the food was burning, so he turned off the stove.
But when he noticed his shirt was on fire, he ran into his bathroom and "dived into the shower" to extinguish the flames - but not before they had done significant damage to his entire upper body. His neighbours heard his screams and managed to call 999.
Thankfully, a fire service crew was a matter of minutes away and they assisted.
Jefferey was sent in an ambulance to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, but was later sent to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, South Wales, to get the appropriate treatment.
He was in a coma for three weeks, and then continued to receive treatment in Morriston for two months.
In August, he was transferred back to Southmead Hospital where he received treatment until he was discharged in December - six months after the incident.
He said: "My life flashed before my eyes. I'm lucky to have neighbours who heard me screaming because if it wasn't for the quick response of the fire service, I'd be dead."
He described the incident as a "blur."
Once Jefferey had had his latest skin graft in September 2022, NHS staff had to work towards re-teaching him basic functions like walking and sitting up.
After two months of being bed-bound, Jeffery faced four months of constant physiotherapy as he had lost "almost all muscle capacity".
He returned to living at home in December, but still has to have visits from carers twice a day to manage his skin and finds it painful to be in the sun.
A year after the incident, Jefferey took to social media to share his journey and post a photo of his skin.
He added: "I'm still struggling. I'm still processing what happened, I find it quite hard to speak about, but I'm proud of my progress.
"I'd like to encourage people to embrace their differences and individuality in the same way I'm learning to embrace my skin."
Do you have a story to share? Email: danielle.wroe@reachplc.com
