Dwayne Bell, 17, was left with third-degree burns after a metal bin exploded in his face at a steel yard in Wigan, Greater Manchester, in March 2021, and has now won a six-figure compensation payout.
Bell, now 22, was an apprentice at Qualfab Steel Ltd when the incident occurred. He was burning rubbish in a metal bin when it exploded, leaving him with horrific injuries. He remained in an induced coma for a week and was rushed to Whiston Hospital, where the end of his nose had "melted".
Explosion and Immediate Aftermath
Bell said he had watched older workers burn rubbish "a hundred times". When wet wood failed to light, he applied paint thinner, unaware of sparks hidden beneath it. "I didn't see the sparks that were already there as they were hidden by the wood," he said. "The next thing I knew, the world just turned orange. The sound was like a jet engine. I was standing in the middle of a massive flame."
He asked co-workers to take photos of him in the immediate aftermath. "I had feathers on me from the jacket and my face was red with skin peeling off but I didn't think it was that bad as I felt no pain," he recalled.
Hospital Ordeal and Recovery
While in hospital, Bell begged nurses to switch off the machines and let him die. "I was being constantly sick due to the breathing tubes, I couldn't sleep because of the bleeping and I felt like I was on fire whenever I moved," he said. "I looked at the nurses and I just begged them to let me die. I couldn't see a future."
Following three weeks in hospital, his mother became his carer. He subsequently underwent three skin grafts and faces further surgery. Express Solicitors secured a six-figure settlement on his behalf. Senior Associate Neil Sagar said: "Dwayne has made a miraculous recovery from his life changing injuries. But he still lives with the consequences of what happened everyday and his ongoing scars will affect his future career. Businesses need to make sure appropriate supervision and training is given to apprentices, especially when working with dangerous disposal methods."
Moving Forward
Bell has since secured an apprenticeship as a welder at a different company. He said: "I have to live with the consequences of what happened there everyday. Now I just want to try and live as normal life as possible." Qualfab Steel Ltd has been approached for comment.
