Teenage athlete ‘crippled’ in BBQ scalding horror
Jessica warns of dangers after feet burned in beach incident
Jessica’s feet were in agony morphine but it didn’t seem to touch the pain so they put her on gas and air to try to get her some relief.”
Only now, three weeks on from the horrific incident, Jessica feels able to talk about it and wants to warn others to be careful if they are using a disposable
barbecue at the beach. She said: “It’s hard to believe just how much heat was still in the sand after we moved the barbecue. As my foot sunk into the sand, it was burned on the sole and up the sides.
“I was in terrible pain and for days I couldn’t put any pressure on my right foot.
“My left foot was nowhere near as bad in the end but I had to have both treated. Then the dressings had to be removed and replaced every two days in the hope of avoiding infection. It was horrible.
“The staff at the Ulster Hospital were fantastic on the day it happened and then I had to go to the burns unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital and they took care of my after that.
“They were so kind and gentle and they made sure I had every chance to heal as quickly as possible and I suffered no infections. In one week, while I was having my dressings changed, the nurses said five other people had been through the doors with the same injuries as me after doing exactly what I did.”
Jessica who is a member of the North Down running club has been unable to train.
Initial concerns she would have to undergo a skin graft left her athletic career in doubt but she is now healing naturally and has been told she could be back in training within three months.
irish@mgn.co.uk