A teenager from Glasgow was left with severe burns on his face and hands after an aerosol can burst in a fire.
Aiden McGee, 14, was walking alongside the canal in Linnvale towards Clydebank with friends to play football on June 19 when the group noticed a small blaze. The schoolboys went over to inspect the fire, however, mere seconds later a freak accident would result in the 14-year-old being rushed to hospital after an aerosol can exploded.
Aiden's dad, Will, was left stunned when he was told about what happened to his son.
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He told Glasgow Live: "They saw a fire and, being curious wee boys, they went over. He told me that an explosion came out of a can and it blew him backwards.
"It had burnt all his face and his hands. He had a bottle of coke on him, he didn't know what to do, so he poured it all over himself to cool down.
"He ran to one of his classmate's granny's house and chapped on her door and she threw him in a cold shower. We were then notified and my partner came back and said she needed to go get Aiden.
"An ambulance came and got him. They put him on morphine and took him to hospital, where he was kept for a good few hours."
Aiden has already had a few health scares this year, he nearly fell into a diabetic coma a few months ago, due to his Type 1 diabetes, and also hurt himself quite badly while riding a scooter just days before he was rushed to hospital with burns.
Will was left worried at home as he waited to find out the condition of his son and was beginning to think the worst.
The dad said: "When my partner told me what happened I had a panic attack.
"I didn't know what to do. I felt as if the world was collapsing, I couldn't believe what was happening to my son.
"It's hard to explain how I felt. All I could think about was whether his eyes were injured or if he lost any fingers.
"When he came home and I saw him I burst out greeting. His eyebrows were burnt off, his face was blistered, his eyelids were burnt, his hair was singed and his nose was burnt.
"But it could have been worse, we are very lucky."
Due to the severity of the burns inflicted on Aiden's face and hands, the teen has a long road to recovery with frequent trips to the hospital in the near future.
Although, the physical wounds will heal, the family are trying to help the 14-year-old cope with the mental trauma caused by the horrific incident
The worried father said: "We've been taken him back and forth to hospital every two days to put creams on.
"We've also had to apply cream at home to his hands, face, eyes and nose. Nurses have also been in peeling the dead skin off to allow it to heal.
"The burns on the hands look like they will be scarred but we've been told they should heal. The one on his face looks like a birthmark.
"He has been suffering from bad nightmares and has told me he never wants to go camping or near any fire again. He is not allowed out because it could cause infection.
"He has been having wee panic attacks and isn't even wanting to go to the front door.
"He will need to keep putting cream on for the next two years and wear a hat. Aiden is gutted that he won't be able to go out and enjoy the summer holidays with his pals."
Following the shock explosion, Will is concerned about letting his children go outside in case something similar happens again.
He said: "We could have lost our son. It has changed me completely.
"I've always been protective of my kids and now I'm going to have to be more protective.
"It really was horrible."
Now the dad has set up a fundraiser to ensure that his son has a holiday to look forward to once he begins to feel better.
Will said: "Aiden asked to go to Alton Towers before this happened.
"So I started a fundraiser to raise the cash to go when he is better.
"We just want to put smile back on his face because he just looks so sad and it's horrible."
To visit the GoFundMe click here
