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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Scarlett O'Toole

AJ Pritchard 'cried hysterically from guilt' over girlfriend's horror fireball accident

Abbie Quinnen has revealed how her boyfriend AJ Pritchard would "cry hysterically from guilt" after an horror accident left her scarred.

The professional dancer, 25, sustained third-degree burns whilst making a social media video with her Strictly boyfriend, 27, in January last year.

The couple had been attempting to transform a wine bottle into a vase by wrapping rope around it, which had been dipped in chemicals. This was then set on fire, though the flames caught Abbie.

The dancer's hair and body were set alight, with her admitted to hospital. She initially underwent three skin grafts and has since received further treatment following the accident.

"There were times when I would find AJ hysterically crying from guilt and helplessness and that would really upset me.

Abbie was scarred after a wine bottle exploded when making a video with AJ (ITV)

"It definitely did affect our relationship but I think mostly for the better as it showed me just how much he cared and loved me," she told The Sun.

Abbie said: "He's been by my side every step of the way and even now he comes to every single laser, micro-needling or PRP appointment with me, which I am so grateful for. He's always there holding my hand."

She has previously spoken about the fears she felt for her life when the fire started, with AJ saying "seconds felt like a lifetime".

Abbie previously explained on Lorraine while recovering, she feared she would never be able to return to her job of performing.

Abbie showed the true extent of her injuries, having suffered third-degree burns (ITV)

"At the time, when I was on fire, I was just thinking, 'How can I survive, how can I get myself out of this situation?' so I don't actually remember it being that painful, I think I was just in shock and trying to think how can I put this out," Abbie said.

She added: "I think AJ wanted to do this life hack, this home hack, what everyone's been doing, to find something to do.

"We watched the video straight before we did it, to watch step-by-step and everything and unfortunately it just went horribly wrong."

Abbie said she was stood about 4m away from AJ when the accident happened.

AJ and Abbie started dating in 2018 (@abbiequinnen/Instagram)
AJ feels guilty about the accident (Getty Images)

"It went up, straight away, it went straight across the room and it caught my hair instantly and then unfortunately my body as well, my clothes."

AJ added: "Seconds feel like a lifetime.

"When Abbie hit the floor and tried to roll and grabbed a blanket to put the fire out, at the same time I was grabbing wet towels to put on the areas, calling the ambulance, going to A&E, it felt like a whole year."

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