Woman who suffered from severe burns sets up fundraiser for National Burns Unit

A woman, who was engulfed in fire after she unwittingly refueled an already lit Bane Marie last year, is to spearhead a fundraising drive for the National Burns Unit at St James's Hospital.

Joanne McMahon, from Castlemahon, Co Limerick, suffered serious burns to her head, neck, and hands, after she put methylated spirits onto the food heater, which sparked with a naked flame.

The mother of five, who spent a month in a coma and 131 days in total in hospital, is to launch the Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving Fund next Monday night in Castlemahon.

Speaking for the first time since the accident in May 2014, Mrs McMahon said she wants to give back to medical staff who saved her life.

Mrs McMahon said: “My ultimate aim is to give back to the burns unit.

“I wasn’t familiar with the burns unit until I ended up there myself and their care from acute stage to now, rehabilitation has been outstanding and we would just like to help with their fundraising and we would like to help towards their aims for the unit.

“So that people in the future, like myself who never expected to end up there, will get the most advanced care available.”