Dad of three suffers burns to 90% of his body after ‘bursting into flames’ near California mall
A father of three suffered third-degree burns over 90 percent of his body burst into flames At a mall in California last month.
Police in Victorville, about 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles, responded to reports of a man being set on fire in the area of Bear Valley Road and Dunia Road on the evening of March 30.
“Deputies found items consistent with flammable materials and preliminary findings indicate the fire was accidental.” Victorville Police Department said.
Video shared Victor Valley News It showed a large fire burning near an electrical box surrounded by bushes.
Man identified by family GoFundMe Joel, 35, was taken by helicopter to hospital with severe burns, where he remains in critical condition.
A father of three suffered third-degree burns to more than 90 percent of his body after he burst into flames near a shopping mall in California last month (GoFundMe).
“Our family is completely heartbroken,” read the GoFundMe created by Joel’s sister-in-law, Jenny. “Joel is a father of three, and his children need him. Watching someone you love go through something so devastating is something you can never be prepared for.”
According to the fundraiser, Joel has undergone “many life-saving” procedures over the past few weeks to remove damaged skin tissue from his arms, legs, chest and back.
“Additional surgeries are scheduled for this week as part of his ongoing treatment. Due to complications from the burns, his abdomen became dangerously swollen due to fluid build-up and surgeons had to perform an emergency procedure to relieve the pressure,” the fundraiser said.
Although the father is responding well to treatment, he remains in critical condition, according to the fundraiser.
“The road to recovery will be long and incredibly difficult. He will need ongoing surgeries, skin grafts, specialized wound care and long-term medical support,” he said at the fundraiser.
The funds will go toward physical therapy, specialized burn treatment, long-term rehabilitation assistance, medications and other care, his family said. The fundraiser had received nearly $2,000 in donations as of Tuesday.
The fundraiser added: “Joel is much loved. He is not just a patient; he is a father, a brother and someone who means deeply to us all.”
Authorities described the victim as a “transient” from Hesperia in San Bernardino County.
Witnesses told Victor Valley News they believed the man was homeless and described the area where the fire broke out as a possible campsite.
The Victorville Police Department’s Arson/Bomb Squad and the San Bernardino County Arson Investigator are investigating the incident.
Their investigations continue. Independent He contacted the police to get more information.
