A lorry driver is fighting for his life after the cab in which he was sleeping was engulfed by flames – leaving him with burns to around 60% of his body.
Bryan Burns was taking a nap in his HGV when he woke to find flames already at his feet.
By the time the 40-year-old escaped the cab, he had suffered burns to his legs, right arm and torso.
The dad of two from Bridge of Earn is currently in a medically-induced coma after medics originally gave him just a 50% chance of survival.
The cause of the fire is unknown but theories include a faulty aerosol can or mobile phone.
Friends have set up a Just Giving page to try to raise money for Bryan’s family, with a target of raising £3,000.
The horrifying incident occurred at Woodend Business Centre in Cowdenbeath on May 18 when Bryan went to sleep in the bunk bed of the cab at around 10.40pm. The fire broke out around 11pm.
He managed to escape the blazing cab and, despite his injuries, raised the alarm by banging on the door of a nearby lorry.
Bryan was taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy and was then transferred to the burns unit at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
Friend and colleague Gary Hempseed, from Dunfermline, said: “The burns are all down the lower half of his legs where what we think a canister has went off.
“They’re down his right hand, most of his feet and chest have also been affected.
“The lorries usually have air fresheners that go off every few minutes and cans for cleaning inside etc so we think this may have sparked it.
“The engine was off and the company thought at first it was his mobile phone that set it off but it’s either been the cans or a problem with the HGV.
“He’s still unconscious and will remain unconscious for a few weeks until they can bring him round gradually.
“Over the last few days he’s actually improving. Before it was a 50-50 chance he would get through it but now it’s 60-40.
“It’s going to be a long progress though and he will be there for weeks, if not months getting better.”
Gary said the Just Giving page had so far raised £1,500.
“He’s only getting £80 per week sick pay so I’m hoping the page will help out the family while he’s recovering,” he added.
“Bryan’s a good lad; he’s such a grafter and would do anything for anyone.”
A spokesman for Bryan’s employer, Cowdenbeath-based MGS Logistics, declined to comment on the incident.
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Three appliances were mobilised and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the flames using powerful hoses.
“One male casualty was treated by paramedics. SFRS will carry out a joint
investigation with Police Scotland to determine the cause of the fire.”
