A fireside engagement proposal has gone seriously awry for an Adelaide man who burned himself and spent weeks in hospital after trying to get the romantic bonfire going with an accelerant.
Adam Boots is recovering from burns to his face, arms and legs six months on from trying to pop the question beside the fire pit.
The father of two managed to propose from his hospital bed sometime later.
“I’ve just lent down and leaned in and it’s exploded into my face,” he said.
“The pain was quite excruciating, especially on the face.
“Don’t use accelerations and be very cautious.”
It’s not just hopeless romantics who must be wary of bonfires this winter.
Last week, The Alfred hospital in Melbourne sounded the alarm on a worrying trend typically involving young men, bonfires, booze and three-day weekends.
Staff at the hospital have recorded a spike in petrol burns on long weekends, typically involving men in their 20s and 30s, alcohol and drugs.
Alfred doctor Stephen Goldie said the recurring theme stood out.
People were 20 per cent more likely to be burned by petrol on a public holiday, the research found.
Originally published as ‘Exploded in my face’: Fireside proposal goes seriously wrong