11.10.2024

Arkansas mother says she looked like Freddy Krueger due to her burns

A mother today revealed how she has completely recovered from a horrific work explosion that melted her face and left her ‘looking like Freddy Krueger’.

Wendy Hines, from Arkansas, was left with second and third-degree burns to her face, arms and hands. Doctors told her she was lucky to be alive.

She thought her scars, which she was told would be permanent, made her look like Freddy Krueger, the burned serial killer in The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

But Ms Hines, 44, has made a remarkable recovery from her terrifying experience and regained her beauty after her sisters gave her round-the-clock care.

She has been left scar-free and no longer feels self-conscious about her face, after she hid herself indoors for eight months while she healed.

Wendy Hines was told she was lucky to be alive – but would be left with permanent scars from her ordeal (pictured left in May, in hospital, after suffering the burn, and right after recovering)

Speaking about her ordeal two years ago for the first time, she said: ‘Although I was grateful to be alive, hearing how badly how I was hurt terrified me.

‘My injuries were agonising and I worried about how I looked. My sisters Christy (40) and Brandy (42) kept telling me I looked gorgeous.

‘It took me a week to look in the mirror after the explosion and when I did, I thought I looked like Freddy Krueger.

‘I didn’t even recognise my own reflection’

Ms Hines continued: ‘My face was blistered and cracked. My eyebrows, eyelashes and hair had been singed off.

‘I was horrified and didn’t even recognise my own reflection. I burst out crying, while my sisters hugged me. I thought I was never going to look the same way I did before.

‘My vision in my left eye was blurry as a piece of metal had hit it in the explosion. I panicked I’d be left blind.’

But, Ms Hines, who is a mother to 24-year-old Brittany, added: ‘Almost two years on and the scars have disappeared from my face.

‘I’m thankful to have healed so well, I no longer feel self-conscious about my looks. Doctors were astounded at my progress.’

Her terrifying ordeal

The accident happened when Ms Hines was working as an operator for a defence technology plant, which produces flares for the UK and US armed forces.

She was drying explosive powders when the machine overheated and exploded, hurling her 125ft (38m) in the air.

The blast scorched her face, chest and hands. Ms Hines, who was left with pieces of metal in her elbow, said: ‘Pain seared through me.

‘Glancing down, I saw that my hands were bright red with burns and blood poured from an orange-sized wound on my left leg.’

Quick-thinking colleagues called paramedics while Ms Hines’ father, Walter, 69, rushed to her side.

A helicopter arrived just an hour later and flew her to the burns unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she was sedated for three days.

Ms Hines, from Arkansas, was left with second and third-degree burns to her face, arms and hands (pictured in 2015, before the explosion)

The 44-year-old thought her scars made her look like Freddy Krueger, the burned serial killer behind The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise

The blast scorched her face, chest and hands. Ms Hines, who was left with pieces of metal in her elbow, said: ‘Pain seared through me’ (pictured in hospital)

Ms Hines, who is a mother to 24-year-old Brittany, added: ‘Almost two years on and the scars have disappeared from my face’ (pictured before the explosion in 2015)

Ms Hines said: ‘When I woke up, my body was covered in bandages head to toe, I looked like a mummy.

‘I even lost all my hair from the flames, I was distraught and sobbing in the hospital.’

The extent of her injuries

Doctors revealed that 20 per cent of Ms Hines’ face had been burnt in the blast and she was lucky to be alive.

While in hospital, she underwent three surgeries on her right elbow to remove the shrapnel and 12 laser surgeries on her hands.

Doctors also told her that she had lost 30 per cent of her hearing in her left ear, and 40 per cent in the other.

Ms Hines was discharged from hospital after three weeks. But her extensive injuries meant she was unable to care for herself.

Doctors revealed that 20 per cent of Ms Hines’ face had been burnt in the blast and she was lucky to be alive

While in hospital, she underwent three surgeries on her right elbow to remove the shrapnel and 12 laser surgeries on her hands (pictured, her burnt legs)

Ms Hines said: ‘Luckily my six sisters cared for me, they came to my house every day’ (pictured with her sisters, from left-to-right: Amy, 44, Brandy, 42, and Christy, 40)

She said: ‘I could barely dress myself, feed myself or pick anything up. I was like a child again, learning how to pick up a pencil and how to write.

‘Luckily my six sisters cared for me, they came to my house every day and practically lived with me.

‘They applied creams and hot towels to my face every hour even through the night.’

Living as a recluse

Over the next eight months, Ms Hines was terrified of revealing her face in public and she became a recluse.

She said: ‘I hid myself indoors as I worried strangers would think I was ugly. When I finally ventured outside nine months later, I hid my face with a scarf and a hat.’

Now, Ms Hines has made a miraculous recovery thanks to her sisters’ loving care.
The accident happened when Ms Hines was working as an operator for a defence technology plant, which produces flares for the UK and US armed forces

Over a period of eight months, Ms Hines was terrified of revealing her face in public and she became a recluse (pictured in hospital)

Incredible healing

She added: ‘My face is finally back to how I looked before the accident. Doctors told me that I’m blessed and I’ve healed incredibly.

‘I am so thankful to my sisters, if it wasn’t for their help, my face wouldn’t look as good as it does now.

‘Although my hands are still terribly burnt, I am undergoing laser surgery on them this year to reduce the scarring.

‘Since the accident, my eyesight has been affected – I struggle to read properly and or see from a distance.’

Ms Hines continued: ‘I still suffer from nightmares and seeing a flame gives me terrible flashbacks of that day.

‘But when I look at my face in the mirror, I finally feel beautiful again.’
Ms Hines said: ‘I am so thankful to my sisters, if it wasn’t for their help, my face wouldn’t look as good as it does now’ (pictured in the middle of sisters, from left-to-right, Brandy and Christy)

Ms Hines continued: ‘I still suffer from nightmares and seeing a flame gives me terrible flashbacks of that day’ (pictured in hospital with sister Christy)

Ms Hines was discharged from hospital after three weeks. But her extensive injuries meant she was unable to care for herself (pictured in hospital)

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