Electric blanket causes man’s bed to burst into flames as he slept
An electric blanket as sparked a house fire in Melbourne’s south-east, sending the bed up in flames while a man slept.
Daniel De Gabrielle was sleeping in his Noble Park home early on Friday morning when his bed erupted in flames.
“I just woke up and the bed was literally on fire, like it was like the flames were three feet high,” he told 7 News.
The 34-year-old was staying with his partner’s family when he woke to searing heat.
He wasn’t aware, but an electric blanket had switched on and malfunctioned.
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“My first reaction was just put the fire out so I was just trying to find anything that could put the fire out but I didn’t realise what was on fire,” he said.
When buckets of water aggravated the flames, the 34-year-old dragged the burning bed through the house and out onto the driveway.
He collapsed and was transferred to hospital by paramedics.
“I’m so lucky. I mean I could have just burned alive. Half my body was covered in burns,” he said.
While he suffered burns to his hands, chest and throat, firefights say Mr Gabrielle is lucky to be alive. They’re hoping his story will serve as a warning to others in the lead up to winter.
“Every time we turn up at these fires people say, ‘I didn’t think it would happen to me’. But it does and it can be prevented, but we need your help,” Country Fire Authority Deputy Chief Officer Gavin Freeman said.
Electric blankets should be stored rolled up, not folded, and should only be used to warm the bed before sleeping.
