A YOUNG woman who was hospitalised with serious burns after a commercial kitchen explosion has battled through surgery, stints in intensive care and a COVID infection in the week since she was hurt.
Jordana Hibbard, better known to friends and family as Jordy, was working at Six String Brewing Company at Erina on the Central Coast on October 28 when there was a gas explosion.
Her partner Rhys Saultry told the Newcastle Herald on Tuesday the quick-thinking of her colleagues helped save her.
A staff member grabbed her and immediately took her to a shower on-site, where they ran cold water over her while they waited for an ambulance.
She was flown by CareFlight to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney where she was placed in the intensive care unit for two days, intubated and heavily sedated.
She had only just been moved to the burns unit when, in another cruel twist of fate, she struggled to breathe after waking up from having her dressings changed and tested positive to COVID.
Ms Hibbard, 24, was taken back to the intensive care unit and tubed again.
"So it was a bit touch-and-go all weekend with her breathing and her heart rate and all of that sort of stuff," Mr Saultry said.
She had improved by Tuesday and was expected to be moved back to the burns unit.
Mr Saultry said he had been asking his partner daily how she felt and how her spirits were.
"She's answering well, but I can see it's taking a toll on her," he said.
Mr Saultry said Ms Hibbard had a long road to recovery ahead, after suffering burns to about 25 per cent of her body, including her face, arms and hands.
"She's looking at at least another three to four weeks in hospital to recover, and possibly another one or two skin grafting surgeries," he said.
Mr Saultry said his partner had worked at Six String Brewing Company for about a year and a half when the incident happened.
"She's very passionate about cooking and where she works, she loves her workplace and they all love her," he said.
He described her as someone who was cheeky and fun, loved to have a chat and enjoyed going on adventures.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Ms Hibbard's family during this difficult time.
The organiser wrote that while she would be looked after with medical expenses and wages covered, they wanted to take the pressure off her loved ones, who would also need extended time off work.
Mr Saultry said Ms Hibbard's colleagues had been supporting her, coming to visit, had delivered a care package and one had even offered to buy her a laptop so she wasn't bored in hospital.
Six String Brewing Company said in a public statement on social media that its kitchen was undergoing repairs on Monday and Tuesday.
"Our priority is our staff first and foremost," a statement from the brewery said the day of the incident.
"We also just want to thank you all for your support, respect and kind words through this difficult time."
Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to the industrial complex on Chiltern Road, where the brewery is, just before midday on October 28 after reports of a gas explosion in a kitchen.
They were investigating the cause of the incident.
