Family members of a man severely burnt in an explosion have spoken for the first time his horrific injuries.
John Balls was yesterday in a critical condition following the blast at Wardle Storey's factory in Brantham.
His brother-in-law, Barry Soames, said he was still on a life-support machine and would face more than a year of intensive rehabilitation.
Mr Balls's burns were so extensive that Mr Soames said he was hardly recognisable when relatives visited him in hospital.
He said: "We went so see him and we didn't recognise him because his face was so puffed up - it was like a football - and some of his burns are very deep.
"I went with my wife and his mum and dad and that was the first time anybody has seen him. It's a very hard time."
Mr Balls was airlifted to Broomfield specialist burns unit in Chelmsford immediately after the incident on Tuesday afternoon.
He was treated for serious burns to his face, hands and chest, and superficial burns to his abdomen and arms.
Mr Soames said: "He is critical but stable, according to the surgeon.
"He had 45 per cent actual burns and has had another 30 per cent skin grafted, so he has 75 per cent of his skin missing off his body.
"He is on a life-support machine and he won't be taken off that for at least another ten days - he's still unconscious."
Investigations into the cause of this week's accident are ongoing.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Friday, December 2, 2005
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