The raffle for Emerson’s artwork will be drawn on October 16. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED
Mixed-media artist Mandy Emerson has helped raise thousands for people in need, but her latest altruistic bid hits closer to home.
The Riversdale-based artist has donated a stunning painting in an effort to raise funds for her family after tragedy struck last week.
On October 4, Emerson’s 15-year-old nephew and her niece’s 22-year-old partner suffered horrific burns in a freak explosion on a remote Akitio farm.
“It’s just hideous. Luca, my nephew, has burns to 30 per cent of his body. My niece’s partner is even worse off. He has burns to 60 per cent.
“It’s their faces, arms, hands. Both have had grafting already, and they’ll just have to keep grafting, keep going to surgery. It’s a long road.”
Emerson said the pair were working on the Huirau farm in Akitio when the accident happened shortly after midday.
“They were in the farm workshop fixing a gate. They needed to grind something to make a gate fit properly.”
Emerson said it was a confined space, about six metres square, with a dirt floor.
“Luca felt intense heat, so he went and opened the door, and the whole thing just exploded.”
She said WorkSafe was making inquiries, but initial speculation was that the sparks had combined with an accelerant soaked into the dirt floor.
Emerson’s niece Freya, 19, was first on the scene.
“She was in the woolshed and heard them screaming for her. The door swung shut on them in the explosion.”
Freya pulled the boys from the shed, grabbed a four-wheel drive, and raced towards the house, Emerson said.
It was an agonising 20-minute trip.
“She was calling everyone she could, emergency services and family, but there is a lack of service in the area.
“She got them in the showers and ran to use the phone next door.
“Her actions most definitely saved them.”
Emerson said the boys remained in the showers until emergency services arrived.
“They were just screaming.”
About 45 minutes after the explosion, a district health nurse and first responders were on the scene.
“They said ‘we need two helicopters. These kids are burnt.’”
Helicopters from Palmerston North and Hawke’s Bay were dispatched.
A Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopters spokesperson said Freya was a hero.
“The normal first aid response is 20 minutes under cool running water, which significantly improves the patient outcome.
“The next thing is to wrap the burns in cling film. When you lose skin, you lose protection from infection and dehydration. Then it’s pain relief and an intravenous. There is certainly a hero in this story.”
The spokesperson said the 15-year-old and 22-year-old patients were transported to the Wellington Hospital “major trauma centre for assessment”, then to the Hutt Hospital and Auckland’s Middlemore.
Emerson said her brother and his family had dropped everything to be in the Hutt with Luca, and her niece Freya was in Auckland, where her partner was still in intensive care.
Emerson said with accommodation scarce in the Hutt, the family had been staying with friends.
“My brother was two days into his dream job, so he has no sick pay or holiday pay. His work has been very understanding, but it’s hard.
Emerson said the young men had received outstanding care, but it was a long road.
- Visit: https://www.facebook.com/mixedmandy to enter the artwork raffle and help raise funds for Emerson’s whanau. The raffle will be drawn tomorrow.
