A young woman who had to fight for her life after a terrifying gas explosion at a craft brewery has a long road to recovery ahead of her.
Jordana Hibbard, 24, was working in the kitchen as a cook at Six String Brewing Company, in Erina, on the New South Wales Central Coast, when the explosion occurred on October 28.
Emergency services attended the scene and treated Ms Hibbard for severe burns.
She was airlifted to Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
Ten days later, Mrs Hibbard remains in intensive care and will remain in hospital for another month.
Doctors initially estimated that he suffered burns to 25 percent of his body, a figure that has since been reduced to 20 percent.
Her boyfriend Rhys Saultry said her health is slowly improving after she underwent her first skin graft last Friday.
“She’s been intubated twice (and) she can’t really talk,” he said. 7news.com.au.
Jordana Hibbard, 24 (pictured), suffered serious burns after the gas explosion which occurred around 11.30am last Monday.
Ms Hibbard was working in the kitchen at Six String Brewing Company (pictured) when the explosion occurred.
‘That hurt his vocal cords. She is usually the loudest person in the room.
Ms Hibbard had difficulty breathing after undergoing her first round of surgery.
He then contracted Covid-19, but now tests for the disease are negative and his breathing is returning to normal.
“His hands and arms… are badly burned,” Mr Saultry said.
Mrs Hibbard will remain in hospital for at least another four weeks and could undergo a second round of skin graft surgery next week.
Loved ones and staff at Six String Brewing have rallied around the couple since the explosion.
“This will be just the beginning of his long and difficult journey back to recovery; he will have to undergo months of physiotherapy and hospital visits before he can return to work,” he said. GoFundMe established by your workplace read.
Ms Hibbard (pictured) is still in intensive care more than a week after the explosion and underwent her first round of skin graft surgery last week.
Ms Hibbard was treated at the scene before being flown to Sydney in a critical condition.
‘We are putting together a care package to help her (Mrs Hibbard) get through the difficult times ahead at the hospital and to let her know that we are all thinking of her.
‘It goes without saying that Jordana, as a member of the Six String family, will have her medical expenses and salaries fully covered, but we hope we can help raise the money so she can help support her family at this difficult time. .
‘It will be a long road ahead and her boyfriend and his family will need extended time off work to help her recover.
‘It is vitally important that she can fully concentrate on improving and not have to worry about her family taking time off to support her.
“We are hoping we can help raise the money so we can help support his family at this difficult time.”
Jordanna Hibbard awaits another month in the hospital
So far almost $3,500 has been raised toward the goal of $15,000.
Saultry said the support from the brewery has been overwhelming and said Hibbard loves her job as a cook.
The explosion is not considered suspicious.
