Man who survived 98 per cent burns says thanks to Homerton fire crew

Constantin Huber (left) shakes hands with a fire fighter during a visit to Homerton Fire Station. Photgraph: London Fire Brigade

Constantin Huber (left) shakes hands with a firefighter during a visit to Homerton Fire Station. Photograph: London Fire Brigade

A man who suffered 98 per cent burns in a horrific fire has thanked the fire crew who helped save his life.

Constantin Huber was filling up a mobile generator with petrol in the back of his van when the fumes exploded, engulfing him, his van and a shop front on Mare Street.

He spent months in a coma and then in recovery before being able to visit Homerton Fire Station alongside his carer, Ally, last month to thank the crew.

As far as his doctors are aware, he is the only person ever to survive 98 per cent full thickness burns.

His remarkable recovery was made possible by an experimental new medical technique used for dealing with severe burns.