FIRE VICTIM LENO TRAPPED IN BURNING HELL!
Needs skin grafts & surgery after flames ate his face
LATE-NIGHT legend Jay Leno is lucky to be alive after being burned beyond recognition when one of his vintage cars suddenly exploded, engulfing the gearhead in a terrifying fireball — and turning him into a human torch, sources spill.
“He was so badly burned, you would hardly know it was him,” an insider reveals.
The former Tonight Show host, 72, tried to laugh off the freak accident by insisting, “I just need a week or two to get back on my feet.” But doctors consulted by The National ENQUIRER say the brave TV icon likely faces months — and even YEARS — of painful reconstructive surgery, and warn his extensive injuries may put his looks — and his career — in jeopardy! In mid-November, the avid collector was repairing the clogged fuel line on a 1907 White Steam car when he was sprayed with gasoline and a spark triggered a horrifying explosion — causing fire to consume the helpless comic! Fortunately, a buddy Jay simply identified as Dave was nearby and immediately smothered the flames. But the funnyman still suffered excruciating third-degree burns to his hands and the left side of his famous face, and was rushed via ambulance to the Grossman Burn Center in West Hills, Calif.
A tipster snitches, “If Dave wasn’t there, he might have gone into shock and died right there!”
The Jay Leno’s Garage star has had two operations to address his disfiguring injuries and is expected to endure even more surgeries in the months to come, a source at the medical facility exclusively tells The ENQUIRER.
“He had skin grafted from his left thigh onto his face and hands,” the source confides.
New York’s Dr. Stuart Fischer notes, “He’ll need to get cosmetic surgeries
on an ongoing basis. Depending on the depth of the burns, he’s also facing possible permanent damage and decreased
mobility in his hands and face!”
And experts warn there are no guarantees any of the procedures will even be effective!
Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Satey tells The ENQUIRER extensive burns to the face are difficult to repair — even with skin graft surgeries!
“The cheek area is particularly tough to reconstruct because it’s more likely to have hematomas, or fluid buildups, that are the enemy of any skin graft,” says Satey. “There’s no underlying bone to give it support.” Fischer was similarly cautious in his prognosis for the ailing comedian.
“He’ll need large swaths of skin for an effective skin graft,” Fischer explains.
“That means it will have to be done in stages, and it may or may not work. It’s not like replacing wallpaper.”
Fischer also believes there’s a serious chance the burned areas will be permanently scarred and discolored, and adds, “It’s unrealistic to expect he’ll look like he used to!”
Both doctors also expect Jay’s recovery will be slow and excruciating.
“The nerve endings are in the skin, making it very painful,” Fischer says. “And if the muscles beneath the skin are damaged, he may not be able to ever move his face in the same way.
“The burns also make him far more likely to contract infections, and if the skin is burned badly enough, damaged regenerative cells make it vulnerable to malignant [skin cancer] changes.”
Sources say wife Mavis, 76 — who’s been married to Jay for 42 years — had long feared a terrible tragedy like this might eventually occur. “Many of Jay’s cars and motorcycles are 75 years old or more, and they can be unpredictable when it comes to making repairs and modifications on them,” a spy squeals.
“Mavis felt a horrible accident like this was inevitable.”
And doctors aren’t the only ones who feel the standup standout may be overly optimistic about how soon he’ll be back performing in front of the camera — and his devoted fans.
“Jay has a slew of theater and casino dates coming up in early 2023, but Mavis is begging him to cancel them, to stay home and recover properly,” an insider dishes. “She knows he cheated death and is far from out of the woods. She wants them to grow old together, and after this, she knows she has no guarantees.”