'I could have lost my face': Man suffers severe burns to his body after he was 'engulfed by a fireball' in a buck's party prank gone wrong
- A man who was severely burnt during a prank says he's lucky it wasn't worse
- Brent Dixon, 40, was attending his mate's buck party when the prank happened
- One of Mr Dixon's friends threw an aerosol can into a campfire and it exploded
- The explosion resulted in him being left with burns to 14 per cent of his body
- Mr Dixon is spreading the word about accelerant safety in lead up to Christmas
A man who was seriously burnt after one of his mates threw an aerosol can into a camp fire has warned others about the dangers of accelerant fires.
Brent Dixon, 40, received burns to 14 per cent of his body when his friend dropped a spray paint can into a camp fire at mate's buck's party and it exploded.
His quick-thinking friends saved the 40-year-old's life by rushing him to a nearby river, where they extinguished the flames that engulfed his body.
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Brent Dixon, 40, (pictured) suffered severe burns after one of his mates threw an aerosol can into a camp fire has warned others about the dangers of accelerant fires
Mr Dixon (pictured) received burns to 14 per cent of his body when his friend dropped a spray paint can into a camp fire at mate's buck's party and it exploded
He suffered burns to his face, hands, down the right side of his body and his arms and legs, but he is thankful his injuries were not more severe.
'It could have been a lot worse,' Mr Dixon told 7News from his hospital bed.
'I could have lost my face, lost my sight, lost a limb.'
Mr Dixon, from Torquay in Victoria's south-west, is expected to make a full recovery and he is now warning others about the dangers of mixing accelerants and fire.
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New data from The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne revealed the highest number of preventable accelerant-related burn injuries occur in December.
Among the most common chemicals being used, which can lead to a potentially serious burn are petrol, menthylated spirits and gas.
Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Health Cleland said: 'Be very careful around accelerants, and don't mess around with things that explode'.
Dr Cleland also said people often use the excuse they have used the chemicals before, but that is no guarantee an accident will not occur, 9News reported.
New data from The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne revealed the highest number of preventable accelerant-related burn injuries occur in December
Mr Dixon (pictured left) suffered burns to his face, hands, down the right side of his body and his arms and legs but he is thankful his injuries were not more severe
Data from the hospital shows more than 1,000 people have presented to The Alfred's emergency department with accelerant burns in the past nine years.
Nearly half of all those burn injury presentations were found to be the result of petrol being thrown on fires, the data showed.
The figures also showed men were five time more likely than women to suffer an accelerant-related burns, with 20-29-year-olds having the highest risk.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade assistant chief fire officer Martin Braid said: 'Never put petrol, aerosol cans or flammable liquids on an open flame or a barbecue'.
A key risk factor that was identified in the data was increased alcohol consumption.
'Once the beers are in, the brain goes out a bit,' Mr Dixon said.
He said his mate who threw the can in the fire is feeling much worse than him, so he is now urging others to take care in the lead up to the festive season.
'Parties, camping, up the river - whatever, you've just got to be careful because, you know, this can happen,' Mr Dixon said.
He added to 7 News: 'Even a tiny little thing (like) throwing a cup of fuel on the fire, you can end up here or worse'.
- Torquay man left with severe burns after aerosol can explodes in campfire
- Nine News Melbourne on Twitter: "Victorians are being urged to steer clear of mixing accelerants and fire - with new data revealing December is a hot spot for potentially deadly burns. @_StephAnderson #9News… https://t.co/GMXpkOmhce"
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