A 35-year-old fire breather, who was left with lifetime scars after a fire dancing accident, has started performing again after suffering horrifying injuries.
Kristy Cullum, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, was performing at a hospice fundraiser organized by her local NHS trust in June 2019 when the gig went wrong and her mouth caught fire while she was ready to spit the flammable liquid fuel onto flames.
Kristy said: “I had a mouthful of paraffin and, just as I was ready to start the fire breathing tricks of my routine, I felt a droplet of liquid hit my windpipe – forcing me to splutter involuntarily.”
“The worst-case scenario would have been scorching my windpipe by breathing in the flames, so I quickly spat all the burning fuel onto my self – burning my lips, chin, and chest severely but saving my life.”
Medical professionals were also present at the event and they rushed to help her. She suffered horrific injuries and was taken to a hospital.
She was put in an induced coma for two weeks.
Kristy says her recovery has affected her both physically and mentally and she felt guilty for not looking after her daughter for one month.
Kristy, who is training to be a nurse, wishes to perform again with fire.
However, she doesn’t intend to perform the stunt that left her with permanent scarring.
She said: “Fire breathing is off the table. But I do want to put on a show with my flaming sticks with some element of risk.”
“I just love doing it, I love the rush and how powerful performing with fire makes me feel.
Kristy says people call her selfish and crazy for performing again as she has a daughter but she says you don’t stop driving if you have a car accident.
She said: “I don’t think in that scenario people would say you were selfish, they’d say well done.”
Kristy is currently working as a health care support worker and hopes to become a nurse in October.
She also plans to perform again with fire as she wants to show her daughter that we don’t stop fighting if bad things happen.
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