Two cousins sustained severe facial burns when a friend allegedly sprayed fuel on a pub heater, causing it to erupt into flames, a court has been told. April Charlesworth, aged 31, experienced a tragic turn of events during her birthday celebrations at the Kings Head pub in Great Cornard, Suffolk, on April 24, 2021. Her injuries included burns on her neck, hands, and face. Accompanying her at the pub was her cousin Ashleigh Charlesworth, 32, who suffered burns to her chest, face, and hands and had to be placed on a ventilator due to swelling in her airway.
During the trial at Ipswich Crown Court, it was revealed that Dale Carter, 30, was part of the group enjoying their first night out following Covid lockdown restrictions. The incident occurred in the pub car park where the group, including the cousins and friends, were seated on a chilly evening. April’s brother, Sam Charlesworth, reportedly fetched a tabletop heater and a bottle of ethanol from their mother’s home nearby. He lit the heater and placed the fuel bottle in a bag, briefly leaving the area. Upon his return, he witnessed the chaos and discovered his sister and cousin had been seriously injured.
Sam testified in court that he had cautioned Carter about handling the heater and fuel with care to prevent a fireball. He recounted joking with Carter about fire safety, but Carter allegedly disregarded the warnings, leading to the tragic incident. Another witness, Mark Lawrence, claimed to have seen Carter pour fuel from a bottle onto the heater, causing a flash of flame that disappeared initially. However, the second attempt resulted in a more significant fire outbreak, with the bottle igniting, exploding, and launching like a rocket.
According to witness Danny Wheeler, after Carter poured fuel on the heater again, the bottle’s lid and end blew off, igniting a fire that caused burns to individuals nearby, including Carter himself. Carter’s defense lawyer, Michael Epstein, acknowledged the gravity of the event but attributed it to a “freak accident.” Carter has pleaded not guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily harm.
As a consequence of her injuries, Ashleigh, who previously worked as a nurse, has transitioned to a clinician role at the NHS 111 service. April, a mother of one, expressed the ongoing challenges she faces in readjusting to normal life post-incident, highlighting the lasting impact it has had on her. The trial proceedings are ongoing.
