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A young veterinary nurse has told of her horror after suffering severe burns when her hair caught fire simply blowing out a candle.
Emily Fairbrass had leant over to put out the flame at her Sittingbourne home when one of her long blonde locks caught fire.
The fire rapidly spread across the 25-year-old's head, face and neck and Emily ran in agony to the bathroom in a bid to stop the burning.
She then rushed round to her neighbours' house who covered her burns while emergency services were called.
The harrowing ordeal unfurled when Emily, who works at Wigmore Veterinary Centre in Gillingham, was at her home on the morning of December 10.
She said: "I can honestly say my neighbours Janice and John saved my life. I have sent them flowers and chocolates, but words cannot say how much I owe to them. I cannot thank them enough.
"All of a sudden I was surrounded by firefighters and ambulances."
"I never knew something like blowing out a small candle in my dining room could result in this..." Emily Fairbrass
Paramedics took her to Medway Maritime Hospital and she was transferred to a specialist unit in East Grinstead, West Sussex to be treated for second and third degree burns to her face, neck and head.
She was discharged after four days but still has to return for her wounds to be dressed.
Speaking from her family home in Maidstone, she said: "I just kept shouting 'my hair, my hair'. I had lovely long blonde hair. It is the only real thing I like about myself."
Emily, who has worked as a trainee at the practice in Maidstone Road for four years, said: "I would also like to thank my work colleagues, family and partner.
"It all happened so quickly. I never knew something like blowing out a small candle in my dining room could result in this.
"It hasn't put me off lighting a candle, but especially at this time of year, I would like to thank others.
"If you are going to have candles then be very cautious where you put them and just be cautious.
"If I can stop this happening to someone else then that will be amazing."
Emily, who lives with partner Steve Dimsdale, 29, a mechanic in Quinton Road, has been signed off work until March.
She added: "I love my job and if I could I would go back tomorrow. But I am told I can't risk infection.
"I have also got to face the emotional and physical side of things.
"Staff at East Grinstead have been absolutely amazing and I have a lot of support around me. And my hair is gradually growing back."
Her colleagues started a GoFundMe page to make Emily's life a little more comfortable over the Christmas period. It has so far raised more than £700.
For more real life stories, click here.
For more news on fires in the county, click here.
