Mum issues warning over common household item after skin 'just melted away'
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A mum who was left with third-degree burns and a lifelong scar after her seven year old hot water bottle exploded on her lap has issued a stark warning to others, saying her skin "just melted away". Karen O'Brien, a 52 year old retail worker from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, who lives with her husband Daniel and their two children, suffered horrific burns when her hot water bottle ruptured on her lap in March 2024.
The traumatic incident caused her skin to blister and peel off along with her trousers, leaving gaping "holes in the skin" that deteriorated by the hour. At Leicester Royal Infirmary Hospital, medics had to remove layers of damaged skin to ward off infection, resulting in a large scar on her thigh and permanent skin discolouration.
Now, Karen is extra vigilant around hot items and has urged others to steer clear of hot water bottles. Karen shared her harrowing experience with PA Real Life: "When I first could see the skin, I had blisters coming up straight away, and then you could see where the skin just melted away. "There were holes in the skin but every hour it was looking worse and worse and worse.
"At first I thought, 'OK, I know I've done some damage here' but it didn't look that bad. After this, I found out you are supposed to replace (hot water bottles) after around a year, and a lot of them have the date they were manufactured on them... mine might have burst because it was so old.".
In March 2024, Karen suffered from shingles on her scalp, which left her in severe pain down her neck and shoulder. To ease the discomfort, she resorted to using a hot water bottle, following her usual routine of boiling the kettle, waiting a minute, then filling the bottle to the brim.
