A passenger on a Ryanair flight has raised concerns after a distressing incident resulted in severe second-degree burns, leaving her permanently scarred.
Susan Martin, aged 69, was traveling from Bournemouth to Malta with her husband, Billy Martin, 63, when the unfortunate event occurred. About 20 minutes into the flight, a mishap caused the lid of her tea cup to come off, causing scalding hot water to spill on her lap.
The incident caused Susan, a grandmother of 10, to suffer painful burns on her upper thighs, groin, and lower stomach. Images of the affected areas display raw and blistered skin where the hot liquid made contact.
Susan described the three-hour flight ordeal as distressing, leading her to hyperventilate. The Ryanair crew onboard tried to alleviate her pain by applying iced water and gel packs to begin treating the burns.
Reflecting on the events leading up to the accident, Susan, hailing from Weymouth, Dorset, explained, “My husband ordered coffee and tea through the app, and the drinks were served to us. I had tea, which was essentially hot water with a teabag in a large cup. The cup was placed on the tray, and in a sudden turn of events, the lid came off, leading to the spill.”
As the scalding water poured over her, Susan recalled screaming and hyperventilating, eventually going into shock and experiencing tremors.
She said, “The water was scalding, and it originated from the back of the plane. I was taken to the rear hold, where my trousers were removed, and cold water was applied to the burns. The crew used gel packs and cream from the first aid kit, changing them frequently as they warmed up quickly. My legs had begun to blister, and I was in shock, shaking.”
Susan later claimed that the excessively hot water causing the burns had come from the back of the plane rather than the standard drink trolley, leading to its extreme temperature.
She remarked, “I believe the water was excessively hot, causing the severe burns. It was an unfortunate incident, and the lid should not have come off the cup. When water is served from the insulated jug on the trolley, it is never that hot.”
Upon landing in Malta, Susan was swiftly transported to a hospital, where her burns were treated, and she received IV antibiotics, with daily bandage changes.
In light of her traumatic experience, Susan urged others to exercise caution when ordering hot beverages on flights and ensure that drink lids are securely fastened.
She emphasized, “I sustained second-degree burns on my right upper thigh and lower abdomen, and first-degree burns on the left thigh and genital area. Imagine if a young mother with a child or baby had experienced this; it would have been catastrophic. I wouldn’t wish this ordeal on anyone, and I remain wary of hot drinks.”
Since returning to the UK, Susan underwent regular check-ups and dressing changes for her burns over a six-week period. She disclosed that she must avoid sunlight and keep her scars covered indefinitely.
She stated, “I have permanent scarring and must apply cream daily to maintain moisture. Sun exposure is restricted, and I must keep the scars concealed for life. I still have flashbacks and anticipate they will persist. I have refrained from consuming hot drinks since the incident.”
Ryanair has been reached out to for comments.