A self-taught fire breather has suffered severe injuries after a stunt suddenly went wrong during a barbecue in the United Kingdom.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Joe Johnston, 31, was performing tricks for a group of children in Somerset on April 7 when a gust of wind caused flames to engulf his face.
Fire Breather Burned After Gust of Wind Sparks Terrifying Accident
Johnston said the children at the barbecue had encouraged him to perform tricks he had not attempted in two years.
"I've done it a million times. We were having a barbecue and the kids were like, 'Can you show us?' I said 'I haven't done it in a couple of years, I'm a bit rusty,' " Johnston said, via PEOPLE.
According to Kennedy News & Media, Johnston began spinning a lit fire staff before performing a fire-breathing trick by blowing liquid fuel onto the flames.
A sudden gust of wind pushed the fire back toward him, igniting his beard before flames spread across his entire head.
The terrifying moment was captured on video as Johnston collapsed to the ground while friends rushed to help extinguish the flames.
"A gust of wind just came and blew it back in my face, simple as that," Johnstone recalled. "In these situations, you just have to be calm. I put my hands in my face trying to save what I could save, trying to keep it out of my eyes."
Performer Describes Painful Recovery After Hospital Treatment
Johnston explained that unexpected wind changes can happen during fire performances, though he described this incident as the "most fighting time of my life."
"It was quite a dry day as well. I didn't feel my face on fire, my brain just went on survival mode," he added.
"I wasn't really thinking about the pain, all I was thinking was 'how can I put this out?'. That was the only thing going through my head."
After the incident, Johnston stood under a cold shower while waiting for paramedics to arrive. He later said the worst part of the ordeal came during treatment at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
Doctors reportedly had to "take the dead skin off [his] face," repeating the "skin-peeling process" every four hours during his recovery.
Johnston spent seven days in hospital receiving treatment for his burns before returning home.
Since his release, he has shared the footage online to raise awareness within the fire-breathing community and warn others about the risks involved.
Despite the traumatic experience, Johnston says he still plans to return to performing, describing himself as a "fire warrior."
