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Fire-Breather's Face 'Melts' in Horrific Stunt Gone Wrong
30 Apr
Summary
- Fire-breather's beard caught fire due to a gust of wind.
- He described the hospital treatment as the 'worst pain' imaginable.
- Despite the accident, he looks forward to fire-breathing again.
Joe Johnstone, a 31-year-old self-taught fire-breather, experienced a horrifying accident on April 7 when a stunt at a barbecue in Bridgwater, Somerset, went terribly wrong. A sudden gust of wind caused his beard to ignite as he performed a fire-breathing technique.
Footage captured the moment Johnstone's entire head became engulfed in flames. Concerned friends quickly extinguished the fire and administered cold water before paramedics arrived. He was subsequently transported to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
At the hospital, doctors had to remove melted, dead skin from Johnstone's face. He recounted this experience as the 'worst pain' he had ever endured, requiring the procedure every four hours. After a seven-day hospital stay, Johnstone was discharged.
Despite the severe burns and excruciating recovery, Johnstone, who has been fire-breathing for eight years, expressed a strong desire to resume his performances. He stated he is looking forward to returning to fire-breathing, viewing the accident as a learning experience to ensure greater safety precautions.
