HEARTS OPEN FOR NICOLE
A YOUNG woman fighting for her life after allegedly being set on fire, has been described as a “beautiful soul” and a “gorgeous person” by shell-shocked friends.
The community has begun rallying around Hobart’s Nicole Evans, 20, with two fundraisers appearing online yesterday.
Her fiance, Matthew John Davey, 34, has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm by allegedly dousing Ms Evans in fuel and setting her on fire in Chigwell on Monday night.
Ms Evans, who is in The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with severe burns to more than 50 per cent of her body including her face, slightly improved yesterday with her condition listed as critical but stable.
She is undergoing a series of operations, including one yesterday, with any preliminary recovery expected to take months.
If she survives, Ms Evans, an aged-care worker with am- bitions to be a nurse, can expect to undergo years of rehabilitation including the use of a body suit for her burns.
Go Fund Me campaigns “HELP LITTLE NIKKI & HER FAMILY” and “Hobart Burns Victim — Nicole” have been set up to raise $15,000.
Sheena Mclean set up one of the fundraisers for her “beautiful soul of a friend Nicole”.
“As many of you I’m sure know she was quiet and shy at times, but when she was loud and outgoing oh boy did she put a smile on your face,” she wrote.
“A true beauty she is and a gorgeous person in general and one of the most caring and loving people I know.
“She was a joker, a natural beauty and had her head screwed on in life and knew what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go.
“If she pulls through this horrible and heartbreaking tragedy ... it will be ongoing for the rest of her life and also for her family.”
Detectives are currently li- aising with medical and police authorities in Melbourne and will travel there to interview Ms Evans when appropriate.
Mr Davey has been remanded in custody to appear in the Supreme Court in Hobart on June 13.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at crimestopperstas.com.au or phone 1800 333 000.
To donate visit www.gofundme. com/ hobart- burnsvictim-nicole or www.gofund me. com/ help- l it t l e- nikkiher-family