Horrific pictures of lad covered in burns and blisters after allergic reaction to prescription drugs
Chef almost died after burns covered 100 per cent of his body
THESE are the horrific injuries suffered by a lad who was burned alive - after suffering an allergic reaction to PRESCRIPTION medication.
Christopher Wooll, 21, ended up in intensive care with burns and blisters all over his body having suffered a massive allergic reaction after taking mood stabilising drug lamotrigine for just 10 days.
He was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a form of toxic epidermal necrolysis which causes the skin to peel off the body, often in reaction to medication.
But doctors at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital had to battle a series of complications that at one point stopped Christopher breathing - and managed to save his life.
Now finally, the garden centre chef is back at home in Bidford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.
Christopher's father Andrew, a start-up company director, and his mother Jazmin, an accountant, drove his son to Warwick Hospital A&E after his face erupted in blisters after work.
He said: "When we realised what it was I was straight on the internet and we started to realise it was life threatening.
"We broke down when the doctors took us aside and told us he might not survive. It was just awful.
"And then we had to go back into the room and put a brave face on for Chris.
"By then he had blisters and burns all over his body, his eyes were swollen up and he was in pain.
"He had to be wrapped up in bandages and have his hair shaved off.
"It was a real life horror story."
Christopher and his family had only moved to the UK from South Africa in April.
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Andrew is originally from England and moved his family back from George, on South Africa's West Cape, to be closer to his parents and secure better job prospects for his children.
Christopher trained and qualified as a chef back home and after arriving in Bidford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, soon began working for a local restaurant.
The family were settling in well before, on June 28, Christopher began complaining of flu symptoms.
He said: "I did not really think anything of it at first, but the next day at work my face and eyes began to swell up.
"When I got in the car to go home I had blood blisters in my mouth and on my lips. It was pretty scary."
The next day the family went to Warwick's A&E department twice, before Christopher was admitted in a deteriorating state.
He was losing his vision and the blisters and burns across his body were spreading.
On July 2 he was transferred by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital's intensive care unit.
Andrew said: "When he got to Birmingham he had 40 per cent burns on his body.
"But this got worse and worse until it was 100 per cent.
"Such a lot of things were going on. He had a tracheostomy, he was put into a coma for a week. He suffered organ failure and at one point stopped breathing and had to be revived.
"His skin peeling was like being flayed alive.
"I've never experienced such pain and utter helplessness.
"It was extremely difficult for us. We only have one car at the moment, so I had to drive my wife to work, then drive to see Chris, and go and see my parents. I was probably driving about five hours a day."
In all, Christopher suffered blistering on his entire body with skin peeling off, multiple organ failure, corneal defects, two episodes of sepsis, low blood pressure, and he lost a total of 25 kgs.
He still carries many of the scars from his illness and treatment, and he says it will take him six months to recover.
He is currently on a strict regime of ten separate medications, a combination of creams, lotion, tablets, eye drops and mouthwashes that he has to take a set times each day.
Christopher said: "It's a little like my life is governed by my meds at the moment, but it's not that bad.
"When I was in hospital I was quite often sedated so it wasn't too painful.
"It was really scary when I started to lose my sight. It was perfect up until then.
"Fortunately the doctors are really pleased with my progress.
"I know I'm really lucky. Most people who have SJS as badly as I had it don't survive.
"I had never even heard of it before I was admitted to hospital.
"The doctors were fantastic and I would like to thank them all.
"I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. I'm just happy to take life step by step at the moment."
Andrew said: "For him to have been through what he has been through and still be here, we are extremely grateful. It's a miracle.
"We are also hugely thankful for the Burnaid charity who have provided us with so much support."
The family has launched a to help with the costs of Christopher's recovery and to help raise awareness of SJS.
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