“I SHOULDN’T BE HERE…” — TEEN WELDER SURVIVES TERRIFYING EXPLOSION THAT LEFT HIM IN A COMA

A teenage apprentice welder was just 17 years old when a terrifying workplace explosion engulfed him in flames and changed his life forever.

Now, five years later, Dwayne Bell, 22, has secured a six-figure compensation settlement after suffering severe burns in the 2021 accident.

But despite his recovery, Dwayne says he still lives with the physical and emotional consequences of that terrifying day.

“THE WORLD JUST TURNED ORANGE”

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

At the time, he said he was the youngest person working at the site by around 20 or 30 years.

One day in March 2021, he was asked to burn rubbish in a metal barrel — a task he said he had seen other workers perform many times.

When damp wood failed to ignite, Dwayne added paint thinner.

He did not realize sparks were already burning beneath the material.

Then everything changed.

Dwayne recalled seeing the world suddenly turn orange as a huge blast erupted around him.

TRAPPED INSIDE A WALL OF FLAMES

The explosion engulfed Dwayne, leaving him with severe third-degree burns across his body.

His clothing caught fire, while colleagues rushed to help him.

He was eventually taken to hospital, where the extent of his injuries became clear.

Dwayne spent a week in a medically induced coma and remained in hospital for around three weeks.

The young apprentice later underwent three skin graft operations and has been told he will need further surgery.

“I COULDN’T SEE A FUTURE”

Dwayne has spoken openly about the psychological impact of the accident.

During his recovery, he said the pain was overwhelming and he struggled to imagine what his future would look like.

His mother eventually had to care for him after he returned home from hospital.

The experience left him facing months of recovery and permanent scarring.

He later described the period as a “living nightmare.”

FIVE YEARS LATER, HE IS STILL LIVING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES

Today, Dwayne has returned to welding with another company.

But the injuries still affect his everyday life.

Heat and vibration from power tools can make working difficult, and he continues to deal with extensive scarring.

Despite everything, he says he is determined to move forward and live as normally as possible.

“I shouldn’t be here talking to you. I am lucky to be alive,” Dwayne said.

A SIX-FIGURE SETTLEMENT

Dwayne has now secured a six-figure compensation settlement following the traumatic workplace accident.

His legal representative, Neil Sagar of Express Solicitors, said Dwayne had made a remarkable recovery but continued to live with the consequences of his injuries.

The firm also highlighted the importance of proper supervision and training for young apprentices working around dangerous equipment and processes.

Dwayne hopes that by telling his story, other young workers will understand how quickly an ordinary task can become life-changing.

“I JUST WANT TO LIVE AS NORMAL A LIFE AS POSSIBLE”

Five years after the explosion, Dwayne’s life looks very different from what he imagined at 17.

But he survived.

He endured months of treatment, multiple surgeries and a recovery that continues to this day.

And now, rather than allowing the accident to define the rest of his life, he is trying to rebuild his future.

A teenager who once feared he would never leave the hospital is now back at work — carrying the scars of what happened, but determined to keep moving forward.