A father has been left with life-changing injuries after mistakenly using petrol instead of diesel to revive a barbecue, causing a devastating explosion. Charles Dittler, 33, suffered third-degree burns to his face and body and was placed in a medically induced coma for two weeks following the incident at a party in Shreveport, Louisiana, on January 18, 2018.
Mr Dittler, a father of one, recalled feeling like he was “burning alive” as the flames engulfed him. “I started rolling around and screaming ‘I’m on fire, someone put me out!’” he told US media. “It felt like my body was burning from the inside. I thought I was going to die there and then.”
The explosion knocked him to the ground, and he was ablaze for around 10 seconds before his ex-partner’s father managed to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher. Fortunately, his fire-proof work trousers prevented even more severe burns. An air ambulance rushed him to Ochsner Medical Center in Louisiana.
Since the accident, Mr Dittler has endured more than two years of physiotherapy and 16 operations, including several skin grafts and reconstructive procedures. Skin from his thigh and shoulder was used to reconstruct his eyelids and neck, while arteries and tissue from his arm repaired his chin. A GoFundMe campaign raised $12,000 to help with medical bills and living costs.
Despite his ordeal, Mr Dittler has learned to embrace his new appearance and now gives motivational talks on a local radio station. He hopes to visit schools to raise awareness about fire safety. He has also launched a line of ‘Pain to Purpose’ T-shirts for others who have overcome adversity.
