Two cousins were left with horrific and life-altering facial burns after a tabletop heater violently exploded into a fireball during a birthday party at a pub, a court has been told. The shocking incident transformed a celebratory evening into a nightmare of agony and long-term trauma for the victims.
Birthday Celebration Descends into Chaos
April Charlesworth, aged 31, had been marking her 28th birthday at the Kings Head pub in Great Cornard, Suffolk, on April 24, 2021. What should have been a joyous occasion swiftly turned into a scene of horror when a heater on their table erupted in flames. April sustained agonising burns to her neck, hands, and face, injuries that have profoundly impacted her life since.
She was accompanied by her cousin, Ashleigh Charlesworth, 32, a former children's nurse, who also suffered severe burns to her chest, face, and hands. The injuries were so critical that Ashleigh required placement on a ventilator after her airway began to swell dangerously, highlighting the extreme severity of the incident.
Court Hears Details of the Explosive Incident
Jurors at Ipswich Crown Court listened as the distressing events were recounted. The group, including the cousins, were enjoying their first night out post-Covid lockdown, seated at tables in the pub car park on a chilly evening. April's brother, Sam Charlesworth, had reportedly fetched a tabletop heater and a bottle of ethanol from their mother's nearby home.
After Sam lit the heater and temporarily left the area, he returned to screams and flames engulfing the table. He discovered his sister and cousin horrifically injured. Sam testified that he had warned their friend, Dale Carter, 30, about the dangers, even joking about not setting anyone on fire. He claimed Carter had waved his hand through the flame, quipping he was "Iron Man".
Witnesses Describe the Terrifying Fireball
Another witness, Mark Lawrence, told the court he saw Carter pour fuel from a bottle onto the heater. The first attempt produced a flame that flashed a foot out before vanishing. The second time, however, the flame was sucked into the bottle, causing it to explode and transform into "a rocket", setting the table ablaze.
Danny Wheeler, an additional witness, stated that after Carter allegedly squirted fuel a second time, the bottle's lid and end blew off, igniting a fire that caught Carter's hair and people's clothing. The explosion created a fireball that directly caused the cousins' devastating burns.
Life-Altering Consequences for the Victims
The physical and emotional toll on the cousins has been immense. Ashleigh, previously a nurse, has been forced to change careers due to her injuries, now working as a clinician for the NHS 111 service. April, a mother of one, shared her ongoing struggles, stating, "It was difficult to readjust to normal life. It still is. I still don’t like going out by myself, it completely changed me as a person even now."
She emphasised the importance of accepting hard times, noting, "It's ok to have bad days, I still have bad days. It's important to accept hard times - it does get better." Her words underscore the long-term psychological impact of the traumatic event.
Legal Proceedings and Defence Arguments
Dale Carter has pleaded not guilty to two offences of inflicting grievous bodily harm. His barrister, Michael Epstein, acknowledged the horror of the incident but described it as a "freak accident", suggesting it was unintended. The trial continues as the court examines the evidence to determine liability for the catastrophic injuries suffered.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with improper use of fuel-based heaters, especially in social settings where caution may be overlooked. The victims' lives have been irrevocably changed by a single, devastating moment during what was meant to be a celebration.
