TEEN WELDER TURNED INTO A “HUMAN FIREBALL” IN WORKPLACE EXPLOSION — FIVE YEARS LATER, HE’S FINALLY SPEAKING OUT

At just 17 years old, apprentice welder Dwayne Bell was carrying out what he believed was a routine task at a steelworks in Wigan when his life changed in a matter of seconds.

A sudden explosion engulfed him in flames, leaving him with severe third-degree burns, devastating injuries to his face and hands, and a recovery that would continue for years.

Now 22, Dwayne has received a substantial six-figure compensation settlement following the workplace accident and is speaking about what happened — and the lessons he hopes other young apprentices will learn from his experience.

THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED

Dwayne was an apprentice at Qualfab Steel Ltd in Wigan while also attending Knowsley Tech College one day a week.

At the steelworks, he was asked to burn general rubbish, including paper, cardboard and pieces of wood, in a metal container.

According to Dwayne, this was something he had seen colleagues do many times.

On the day of the accident in March 2021, some of the wood was damp and would not ignite properly.

Dwayne added paint thinner in an attempt to get the fire going.

Unknown to him, sparks had already caught beneath the material.

Seconds later, the container erupted.

Dwayne later described seeing the entire world suddenly turn orange and hearing a noise like a jet engine.

He was standing directly in the middle of the flames.

SEVERE BURNS AND A FIGHT TO SURVIVE

The blast caused third-degree burns across approximately 8% of Dwayne’s body, according to his legal representatives.

His face and hands were among the areas badly affected, while his clothing also caught fire.

Colleagues rushed to help him as the flames were put out.

Dwayne has recalled that he initially did not fully understand how serious his injuries were.

He was taken to hospital, where doctors treated extensive burn injuries and placed him in a medically induced coma for about a week.

The young apprentice would spend approximately three weeks in hospital before eventually returning home under his mother’s care.

 “I COULDN’T SEE A FUTURE”

The physical injuries were only part of the ordeal.

Dwayne has described waking from his coma in severe pain and struggling to understand how his life would continue.

During his recovery, he experienced problems associated with his injuries and treatment and said he became overwhelmed by what he was facing.

He later underwent three skin graft procedures, with surgeons taking skin from other parts of his body.

The recovery continued long after he left hospital.

For months, even basic movements and sleeping could be extremely difficult because of his damaged skin.

Dwayne has described that period as a “living nightmare.”

 QUESTIONS OVER APPRENTICE SAFETY

Dwayne has also spoken about the circumstances surrounding the accident and his experience as a young worker.

He said he was the youngest person on the site by roughly two decades and believed he had not received adequate training about the risks involved in the task.

He also said he was not provided with appropriate protective equipment such as safety goggles.

In comments reported by The Irish Sun, Dwayne said he was simply a teenager doing what he had been told to do.

Express Solicitors later highlighted a Young Person’s Risk Assessment from the defendant which stated that workers under 18 should only undertake low-risk activities and should not work in environments where their health could be endangered by heat.

The company was approached for comment by The Sun.

⚖️ SIX-FIGURE COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT

Five years after the accident, Dwayne has now secured a substantial six-figure settlement following legal action against the steel company.

His solicitor, Neil Sagar of Express Solicitors, said the case had been difficult and involved evidence from medical specialists, including plastic surgeons and burn experts.

Sagar said Dwayne had suffered potentially life-changing injuries but had nevertheless managed to return to an industry he loved.

The settlement was reached without a trial, according to Express Solicitors.

 THE SCARS ARE STILL THERE

Although Dwayne survived, the accident did not simply become a chapter he could leave behind.

Five years later, he still has significant scarring and ongoing effects from the burns.

He has said that heat and vibration from equipment can make working difficult, limiting how long he can comfortably perform certain tasks.

He is now working as an apprentice welder for another company.

Rather than leaving the profession completely, Dwayne has chosen to continue pursuing the career he began as a teenager.

 “I SHOULDN’T BE HERE”

Looking back on the accident, Dwayne has described himself as “lucky to be alive.”

He has also spoken about the emotional impact of living with permanent scars and the knowledge that his life could have ended that day.

But his focus now is on rebuilding.

He wants to continue working, move forward and live as normally as possible.

At the same time, he hopes his experience will serve as a warning about the importance of proper training and supervision for young workers.

 A STORY ABOUT SURVIVAL — AND SAFETY

Dwayne’s story began with a routine workplace task and ended with a devastating injury that changed his life.

He was only 17 when the explosion happened.

Five years later, he is 22, has undergone multiple procedures, carries permanent scars and has received a six-figure settlement.

But he is still working toward the future he wanted.

His experience has also prompted renewed attention to the responsibility employers have when placing young apprentices in potentially dangerous environments.

For Dwayne, the message is simple: surviving the accident was only the beginning.

Now, he is trying to build a life beyond it.

“I have to live with the consequences of what happened there every day. Now I just want to try and live as normal a life as possible.”