Cousins Sustain Severe Facial Burns in Pub Heater Explosion
Two cousins have endured horrific facial burns after a portable heater erupted into a fireball during a birthday celebration at a Suffolk pub, a court has heard. The distressing incident left April Charlesworth, 31, and her cousin Ashleigh Charlesworth, 32, with life-altering injuries that have profoundly impacted their daily lives and careers.
Birthday Celebration Turns to Horror in Great Cornard
The terrifying event unfolded at The King's Head pub in Great Cornard, Suffolk, where April was celebrating her birthday with friends and family. According to testimony at Ipswich Crown Court, the group were enjoying their first major social gathering following the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions when the catastrophe occurred.
The jury heard that Dale Carter, 30, who was among the party guests, allegedly squirted fuel from a bottle onto the pub's portable heater, causing it to explode violently. The resulting fireball engulfed both cousins, leaving them with agonising burns to their faces, chests, hands, and necks.
Life-Altering Consequences for Nursing Professional
Ashleigh Charlesworth, who had been working as a nurse prior to the incident, has since been forced to abandon her frontline nursing role due to the severity of her injuries. She now works as a clinician for the NHS 111 service, a career change necessitated by the physical and psychological trauma she sustained.
April Charlesworth, a mother of one, described the profound personal impact of the ordeal, 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." Her testimony underscores the lasting emotional scars that accompany the physical injuries.
Defendant Denies Grievous Bodily Harm Charges
Dale Carter has pleaded not guilty to two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm in connection with the April 2021 incident. During court proceedings, Carter maintained that he had not been 'fooling around' with the heater but was attempting to add more fuel as it was running low.
The trial continues at Ipswich Crown Court, where further evidence will be presented regarding the circumstances surrounding the devastating explosion. The case highlights the severe dangers associated with improper handling of fuel sources near heating devices in social settings.
This shocking incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly celebratory occasions can turn to tragedy, with the victims facing permanent physical and psychological consequences from a single moment of alleged negligence.
