Not burning the food is usually the priority when cooking, but this dad has made me think twice about my list as he sets himself fully on fire while preparing a meal for his daughter.
You would be forgiven for wondering how someone was able to become engulfed in flames while cooking. It’s not uncommon to get the odd burn or singe here and there. However, most things in a kitchen are quite fire retardant.
I’ve even seen flat fires kick off without the chefs losing more than their eyebrows. However, when this dad decided to cook for his daughter, he ended up on fire. The flames did significant damage, and he is still, now, in intensive care. Over 40% of his body has suffered burns.
According to Yahoo News, 32-year-old teacher Matt was cooking using a frying pan before he caught on fire. The fire crews only found a small burn above the cooker, implying the fire wasn’t an inferno. However, Matthew was wearing a highly flammable hoodie.
The hoodie caught on fire, and he was trapped inside it as it burned. A neighbour saw the flames and called the fire services. They arrived to find the horrific scene, and his daughter was thankfully unharmed. He was airlifted to a local hospital and into intensive care.
Family Devastated At Kitchen Disaster
Matthew has left his family in shock as he recovers from the burns that cover almost half of his body. They have, of course, started a GoFundMe page. It looks to help his wife and daughter while the teacher is in the hospital.
“We are surrounded by so much love. Bella’s preschool has wrapped Claire in kindness. Matt’s football club has shown up in big and small ways. Friends near and far are lifting us with messages, meals, and care,” they shared. They are all shocked by the cooking fire disaster.
It’s unusual for clothing to be so flammable. Even cheap clothing is typically quite fire-retardant. However, some fabrics, such as linen and cotton, can be susceptible to ignition. It’s a stark warning for anyone heading into the kitchen. Make sure you’re wearing either an apron or at least clothing that won’t catch on fire while cooking.