Legendary Bristol gig-goer Big Jeff says he is "embracing" his scars after a near-fatal house fire left him with fourth-degree burns. The music fan and artist, full name Jeffery Johns, accidentally set himself alight while cooking pasta just over a year ago.
His shirt caught fire and he was left fighting for his life, spending three weeks in a coma and more than six months in hospital. Following five skin grafts, Jeff has been left with intense scarring across his entire upper body - but says he uses it as a reminder to "keep on fighting".
After posting photos and videos on social media showing his scars, the 40-year-old has received an "overwhelming" amount of support for his positive attitude - and he now wants to encourage others to do the same. He said: "When I woke in the hospital I felt really scared, I was semi-conscious and was out of reality.
Read more: Big Jeff's inspiring message one year after 'horrific' Bristol house fire
"I remember waking up and seeing my left hand, which is the one I draw and write with, covered in bandages and realising how serious it was. I had all sorts of treatments whilst in hospital.
"I had to learn how to walk again after being bedbound for months and had to have five skin grafts on my neck, arms, chest and mouth. I do struggle with my skin still. I think everyone has doubts about their body, but I've decided to be kinder to myself.
"I want to tell people to keep on fighting, never give up fighting. I want people to embrace things that make them an individual.
"If scarring makes you an individual, and you can find a way to embrace to your scars comfortably then go for it." Jeff had returned home from a concert at Bristol's O2 Academy on the evening of June 6, 2022, when the fire broke out.
He was in his kitchen cooking vegetables and pasta on his gas stove when he smelt burning. At first, he assumed the food was burning so turned off the stove - but he then realised the base of the shirt he was wearing had caught fire.
He ran into his bathroom and "dived into the shower" to extinguish the flames - but not before they had done significant damage to his entire upper body. His neighbours heard his screams and managed to call 999.
Thankfully, a fire service crew was a matter of minutes away and were able to assist him. Jeff was sent in an ambulance to Southmead Hospital, but was later sent to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, South Wales, to get specialist treatment.
He was in a coma for three weeks, and then continued to receive treatment in Morriston for two months. In August, he was transferred back to Southmead Hospital where he received treatment until he was discharged in December - six months after the incident.
He said: "My life flashed before my eyes. I'm lucky to have neighbours who heard me screaming because if it wasn't for the quick response of the fire service, I'd be dead. The last thing I remember was being whisked into the ambulance off to hospital.
"When I woke up it was like I was in a dream. I was semi-conscious and out of reality. I remember waking up and seeing my left hand covered in bandages and realised it was serious.
"It's all a blur, I don't remember huge amounts." Once Jeff had his latest skin graft in September 2022, NHS staff had to work towards re-teaching him basic human functions like walking and sitting up. He's since managed to get back on the Bristol music scene, where he became known year ago as a gentle giant with a mass of hair and passion for music.
After two months of being bed-bound following the accident, he faced four months of constant physiotherapy as he had lost "almost all muscle capacity". He returned to living at home in December, but still has to have visits from carers twice a day to manage his skin and finds it painful to be in the sun.
A year on, Jeff took to social media to share his journey and share how his skin looks. He added: "I'm still struggling. I struggle with the heat and the summer, but I have therapeutic ways to deal with it.
"I'm still processing what happened, I find it quite hard to speak about, but I'm proud of my progress. I'd like to encourage people to embrace their differences and individuality in the same way I'm learning to embrace my skin."
Read next:
