WHEN a mum-of-two excitedly prepared for her 50th birthday, she never imagined it would end in a horror explosion that left her fighting for her life.

Adele Tamati, 53, had planned a large birthday bash to celebrate her upcoming milestone and planned to show off her new back garden and fireplace.

A woman lying in a hospital bed with her face bandaged, her hair in a bun on top of her head, and her arms wrapped in bandages.
Adele Tamati was left with third degree burns after her fireplace explodedCredit: True Life Stories
 

Adele Tatami, who was saved by her son after an explosion, smiling and holding a glass of wine.
The accident happened at Adele’s 50th birthday bash – and she was left feeling like a ‘disfigured monster’. Pictured before the incidentCredit: True Life Stories
 

A modern fireplace with a black frame and white stones, flames flickering inside, set against a brick wall.
The explosion took place from her outdoor ethanol fire, and it was the first she had used itCredit: True Life Stories
But after clicking the fireplace on, it exploded and an enormous fireball hit Adele, lighting her on fire.

Adele’s quick-thinking son, Dene Fowler, 23, helped save her life by booting her into the pool, and shielded her from the horror of her melted skin everywhere.

She suffered third degree burns all over her body, leaving her feeling like a ‘disfigured monster.’

Brave Adele battled PTSD and sleepless nights, but over time, her physical and mental scars have healed.

Adele, a student services support officer, says: “To anyone with these fancy Ethanol fireplaces, please get rid of them.

“The table-top ones and the wall-mounted ones. Go gas because I nearly lost my life.

“In that moment I thought I was going to die. But thanks to my amazing son, I’m alive.

“I’m also here today because of me, I’m a warrior and a survivor!”

Adele’s family, originally from Middlesex, UK, emigrated to Perth, Australia in 2011.

Adele says: “My two sons, Dene and Owen, and I moved with my ex-husband, their father.

A woman with a bandaged face and neck, wearing glasses.
Adele was left with third degree burns all over her body, leaving her feeling like a ‘disfigured monster’Credit: True Life Stories
 

A smiling woman with bandaged hands and facial injuries sits with a young man.
Adele in hospital with her son Dene, who helped save her lifeCredit: True Life Stories
“He was working for Qantas airlines at Heathrow and got a job in Perth.

“Although we divorced years later, the beautiful weather kept me down-under. Especially taking the boys to the beach most days.

“Post-divorce, I had some fun for a while. Then I met Dion in 2019 through online dating.

“He was a father and had children from a past marriage. We combined our families together.

“Our kids and all their partners lived with us. There was 8 in total, we were one big, happy family.”

With such a big family, Adele and her now husband, Dion Tamati, 54, a mining technician, moved into a bigger home in 2022.

They up-sized and found a one with a pool.

A family, including a bride and groom, posing for a photo outdoors with their dog visible under the bride's dress.
Adele, 53, pictured with her husband Dion, 54, and her sons Dene, 23. right, and Owen, left, 26, on her wedding dayCredit: True Life Stories

Birthday bash

That year in 2022, Adele’s 50th birthday was approaching. Adele says: “It was a huge milestone. I had the garden party planned for months.

“I invited all our friends and family. I ordered gazebos and tables. I booked catering.

“It was a chance to show our new backyard as well and warm the house.”

In May, Adele had been in the new house for three weeks.

Her eldest son, Dene, a high voltage electrician, was home, with some fellow ex-pat friends.

Adele Tatami with a man.
Adele battled PTSD and sleepless nights, but over time, her physical and mental scars have healedCredit: True Life Stories

‘Streams of flames flew towards me’

Adele says: “Dion was away for work, 500 miles away. The rest of the family were out.

“We were gathered around the outdoor dining table, listening to music and chatting.

“It was also the first time I’d had the fireplace on. As Dion had recently bought a big box of Ethanol bottles for it.

“I took a photo of the fireplace all lit up, and sent it to Dion. I texted him ‘Doesn’t it look lovely?’

In that moment I thought I was going to die. But thanks to my amazing son, I’m alive

Adele Tamati

“But moments later, it went out. I told everyone that I’ll top it up.

“I poured a bottle of Ethanol onto around the artificial stones in the little wells.

“Suddenly, a stream of flames flew towards me. There was a large bang.”

The fireplace, and bottle in Adele’s hand, exploded. She became engulfed in flames.

A woman, Adele Tatami, smiling at the camera, showcasing burn scars on her chest and shoulders.
Brave Adele celebrates her ‘burniversary’ and shows off her scarsCredit: True Life Stories
Adele says: “I realised I was on fire. It was all a blur.

“I immediately remembered ‘stop drop and roll’ as I was first aid trained from work.

“But I was covered in accelerant, it wouldn’t go out.

I’m also here today because of me, I’m a warrior and a survivor!

Adele Tamati

“Dene and our friend were hitting me with dog blankets. But it was still no use.

“Suddenly I heard Dene scream ‘Mum, jump in the pool!’

“I listened and made it to the pool gate, but I slipped onto my side. Then, I felt Dene boot me into the water.

“As I hit the water, I felt instant relief. I was gasping for air, thankful I was alive.”

A woman, Adele Tatami, with burns on her chest and arms, wearing a medical device on her abdomen and a patch on her arm.
Adele post burns, recovering at homeCredit: True Life Stories

‘Arms were melting off’

After Adele’s son saved her life, he stripped down to his underwear, and jumped in to help his mum.

Adele says: “Dene told me I was okay, and grabbed hold of me. But as I looked down, I saw my arms were melting off.

“My skin was everywhere, floating on the water. I began to panic, telling Dene.

“I saw he looked traumatised but he was also staying strong and calm for me.

“He said ‘Don’t look Mum’ and made me close my eyes, protecting me from it.”

Adele Tatami in a swimming pool, showing scars on her chest and shoulders.
Adele is urging anyone with fancy Ethanol fireplaces to get rid of themCredit: True Life Stories

‘He was my hero’

Dene helped his mum out the water, as friends called emergency services. Adele felt her face bubbling up and her lips burning.

As paramedics rushed to her aid, they informed her they’d been to ‘numerous modern fireplace incidents’ and how the tiny blue flame was ‘invisible to the naked-eye’ and that they should be banned.

When Adele next woke up, she was in the burns unit in hospital. She says: “Groggy in hospital, I looked over to my side. Dene was there, telling me everything was okay.

“He was my hero. He saved my life. I felt lucky to be alive.

“The pain began to set in and it was horrendous. Especially after the nurses put me in the shower and scraped all my dead skin off.”

A woman in a hospital gown with a jaw support and bandaged face.
Adele said she struggled adjusting to her new realityCredit: True Life Stories
 

Adele Tatami wearing a black dress and holding a drink.
Adele, pictured in 2020 pre-accidentCredit: True Life Stories
Adele discovered she’d suffered third degree burns to the right side of her face, neck, chest, right arm, both her hands, torso, stomach, back and left foot.

Adele says: “I was distraught and terrified. I had no idea what my life would hold.

“I also felt stupid for such a stupid accident.

“Dion flew back that day, and rushed to see me. Whilst my other son Owen, was wracked with guilt for not being there too.

“The boys told me not long after that Dene had thrown the fireplace into the skip. I was relieved no-one would get hurt. But it also felt too late.”

Adele Tatami in a hospital bed with her son Dene, who helped save her life after an explosion.
Adele, with Dene, who helped save her life by pushing her into the poolCredit: True Life Stories

Painful surgeries

Over the coming days, Adele endured gruelling surgeries. Having skin grafts taken from her thighs.

Doctors also used spray-on skin for her face, chest and hands, which sadly failed. They had to take more grafts from her right thigh.

For weeks she suffered in agony with infections. After avoiding the mirror for weeks, she finally saw her face underneath the bandages for the first time.

I was distraught and terrified. I had no idea what my life would hold

Adele Tamati

She says: “It was bloody, angry, and sore. I hated it.

“My beauty had been robbed and I felt like a disfigured monster. All I wanted was to go home.”

Adele underwent extensive physio and re-training of her brain to be able to use her hands again.

After five weeks, in June that year, she was able to bend her fingers, pick things up and write again. She was finally discharged.

‘Struggling to adjust’

Adele says: “When I got home, I was supposed to have the big party within days. But sadly, we had to cancel.

“It wasn’t the 50th I’d imagined for myself. But I was grateful to finally be home.

“After that, I struggled adjusting to my new reality. Before the accident, I’d always worn make-up when leaving the house.

“But I knew I’d never look like myself again.

Person wearing a black balaclava showing blue eyes, nose, and mouth, with a black Nike hoodie partially unzipped to reveal red skin on their chest and neck.
Adele leaned into the burn survivor community for support and began to heal, physically and mentallyCredit: True Life Stories
“In public, strangers stared at me everywhere. I felt like an alien.

“Once, in the shops, I even confronted a woman. I asked what her problem was. It was awful.

“When Dion took me for a belated 50th birthday dinner at a winery, there was a family staring at me the entire evening. Sat at our table, I broke down in tears.

“The explosion had also left me with PTSD and sleepless nights.”

Burn survivor

A woman holding a baby stands between two men.
Adele with sons Dene and Owen, and grandson Albert, last yearCredit: True Life Stories
But as time passed, Adele leaned into the burn survivor community for support. She began to heal, physically and mentally.

Adele says: “I realised it’s human nature to stare. They were just curious. I could simply smile back at people when they looked at me.

“I’ve been doing things each burniversary for myself. I did a photoshoot to show off my scars.

“I ran for a burns charity. I even set up a local burns community group.

“I vowed to turned something horrendous into something positive.