Woman Permanently Disfigured After Ethanol Fireplace Explosion in Dream Home
Adele Lisa Tamati had just moved into her dream home when a freak accident with a common household appliance left her permanently disfigured and fighting for her life. The incident, which occurred on a chilly Friday evening in May 2022, involved an ethanol fireplace that exploded without warning.
The Horror of the Explosion
Tamati, aged 53 at the time, was excited to use her new fireplace for the first time in her recently purchased home. She filled the fireplace with ethanol and leaned in close to ignite it. "The whole fireplace exploded. All I remember is a big fireball coming towards me," Tamati recounted in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail. Suddenly, she was engulfed in flames, with the accelerant causing the fire to spread rapidly.
She attempted to follow the classic advice of stop, drop, and roll, but it proved ineffective. "My son and his friend grabbed the dog blankets and started trying to put the flames out with those, but because I was covered in accelerant, they caught light too," she explained. Her son Dene, then 20 years old, demonstrated quick thinking by instructing her to jump into the pool, a decision that ultimately saved her life.
Severe Injuries and Grueling Recovery
Tamati bolted outside and dove into the water, extinguishing the flames. "This is when the pain set in," she said. "When I looked down, I noticed all the skin of my right arm floating in the water and leaving my arm. Everything then went black, and I woke up in the hospital." She suffered third-degree burns over 33% of her body, affecting parts of her face, neck, chest, torso, and her entire right arm, leaving her disfigured.
Her recovery was arduous and prolonged. Tamati spent five weeks in the hospital and underwent two skin graft operations. She also required extensive physical therapy to regain the use of her hands and arm. "Once I returned home, I could do nothing for myself. My fiancé Dion had to wash me, dress me, wash my hair, help feed me," she shared. "He did absolutely everything for me; he was an angel."
Mental and Emotional Struggles
In addition to the physical pain, Tamati faced significant mental and emotional challenges. She struggled to come to terms with her altered appearance. "When I first saw the way I looked, I was horrified," she admitted. Going out in public became a source of distress, as strangers would stare at her scars, often reducing her to tears. "Gradually, I started going out. But I felt very self-conscious, and people did stare," she explained. "This was hard... one woman stared so much in a shop, she actually stopped to completely stare at me... I went home and cried my eyes out."
Acceptance and Moving Forward
Now, four years later, Tamati has learned to accept her scars and feels "very blessed" and "super lucky" to be alive. She has since married her fiancé, Dion, and is enjoying life with two grandchildren and two more on the way. "We had an amazing day surrounded by our family and closest friends," she said of her wedding. "We got married in the sun, and I wore a sleeveless dress. I have accepted my scars, and I wear them with pride."
Despite her progress, Tamati continues to receive laser treatments for the burns and battles post-traumatic stress disorder from the horrific accident. "It's still ongoing. My burns are still tight, but I massage and moisturize twice daily to help them, and if this is how they are for life, I am still so very lucky to be alive," she added. "When I talk about the accident, I will have nightmares for a few nights, and I do suffer with PTSD. I struggle to sleep every night, but again, hey, I am here to tell the tale, so am very grateful."
Urgent Safety Warning
Tamati's advice to others is unequivocal: never use an ethanol fireplace. "My message to anyone with an ethanol fireplace is please, please, please get rid of it," she urged. "The paramedic that attended to me said it is not the first accident of this type he had been to. There can be a tiny blue flame, invisible to the naked eye, that explodes when accelerant is poured on. They are so dangerous." Her story serves as a stark reminder of the hidden risks associated with certain household appliances and the importance of safety awareness.
