A WELL-known councillor has spoken out about a horrific bonfire accident that left him badly burned and almost cost him his life.

Tom Wells suffered 35 per cent burns and spent two weeks in intensive care after a garden bonfire "went up in his face" and set him alight.

The district and county councillor says the accident could have cost him his life were it not for the quick response of the Midlands Air Ambulance and the care he received in the specialist burns unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Now back at home in Upton Road, Callow End after the accident 12 weeks ago, Cllr Wells told the Worcester News: "I'd lit a bonfire in the morning to burn lots of ivy that we'd taken down.

"The fire didn't seem to take and in the afternoon I thought it had gone out, so I made the classic mistake; I put petrol on it and it went up in my face.

"I remember flames on my legs and back, and rolling over and over on the lawn to put them out.

"I ran into the house and stood under a cold shower for about five minutes and called 999.

"I was alone in the house at the time. The (air ambulance) helicopter landed on the playing field and someone said 'That's for you'.

"I wasn't in pain then, I think that was the shock."

Cllr Wells was flown from his home, in Upton Road, to the hospital, where he spent two weeks in intensive care undergoing treatment.

"My wife Cathy was told there was the possibility fear of bacterial infection, especially now that there are antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and there was also the chance that I would go into shock and my organs would shut down," he said.

However, he started getting physiotherapy as soon as possible to ensure that long-term damage was minimised.

“Recovery has been a painful journey and it is still carrying on, and I’m lucky that I seem to be recovering faster than was originally predicted," he added.

Cllr Wells is easing himself back into his council work, chairing a meeting this week.

He is also planning on returning to the public eye with two concerts featuring Powick Community Choir, which he founded and directs, to raise money for the burns unit at the hospital.

"I had 35 per cent of my skin burned, and if there hadn’t been such a good burns unit in the region, and a helicopter to get me there in 15 minutes, I don’t think I would be here now," he said.

"The burns unit at the Queen Elizabeth is an exemplar of good practice both national and internationally, and I think I owe it my life, so it’s the least I can do to raise some money for it. I would like to raise four figures if possible and I hope there will be lots of support.”

The two summer concerts will take place in the Great Hall at Stanbrook Abbey, Callow End, on Sunday, July 10, at 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

They will feature show tunes, two Coronation anthems and some of his own compositions.

Tickets for the concerts, priced at £10, are available at Callow End Village Shop from 9am on Friday, July 1.

As well as the support from the hospital, Cllr Wells said he also wants to thank the people of Worcestershire for their care and good wishes.

"I have received a tremendous amount of support, and I’m looking at what must be 300 cards wishing me luck and a good recovery," he said.