AJ Prichard has revealed his girlfriend Abbie Quinnen will be left with ‘some scars’ after she was badly injured in a horrific fire accident, but hopes they’ll ‘heal in time’.
Professional dancer Abbie, 23, suffered third-degree burns and needed three skin grafts after a video she was filming with her beau, 26, went wrong and saw a wine bottle explode in January.
Updating fans on her recovery in an interview with The Sun, the former Strictly pro explained that Abbie’s surgeons are ‘very happy’ with how her skin grafts are healing.
Permanent: AJ Prichard has revealed his girlfriend Abbie Quinnen will be left with ‘some scars’ after she was burned in a horrific fire accident (pictured together)
He said: ‘There are different areas, and there are different degrees of burn and she will have a small scar in certain areas.
‘But, as with time, they will heal and other areas will heal. I think the most important thing was that the skin grafts worked.’
The former I’m A Celebrity added that he tried to reassure Abbie after the accident and admitted that they do both ‘use’ their looks working in the showbiz industry.
AJ said: ‘So on that night I just tried to keep her calm and keep her focused on how we were going to help and how the NHS would do everything in their power as quickly as possible.’
Now two months on from the accident, AJ said he’s still plagued by memories and sometimes wakes up during the night thinking about what happened, adding that he wouldn’t rule out talking to a professional for help in the future.
He also told the publication that it’s all ‘very traumatic’ still and he tries to avoid anything on TV that involves fire as the horrific accident is still too raw.
Terrifying: The blonde was filming a video with her beau, 26, when the accident happened on January 19 and was driven to Ealing Hospital in London by her partner’s brother, Curtis, 25
The dancer also reflected on rushing Abbie to the hospital from their flat in west London with his brother Curtis, saying the moments after the accident slowed down.
AJ explained how Abbie’s ‘body was engulfed’ by the flames and he used wet towels to try and stop the fire.
Once Abbie was at the hospital AJ couldn’t stay because of Covid rules however he made sure to be there for her on the phone for the four days they were apart.
He also candidly admitted that once the adrenalin of the accident started to wear off, he was a ‘complete mess’ and sat shaking in his car.
After days apart, Abbie didn’t want AJ to see her wrapped up in bandages however the Strictly star explained how he just took her hand and became emotional.
AJ told The Sun: ‘Seeing her walking to me, having got out of her wheelchair, it was the hardest day of my life but also the happiest.’
AJ’s update comes after Abbie was pictured with her upper body and face wrapped in bandages during her recovery.
‘I will be OK!’ The professional dancer reassured fans she’s recovering from the terrifying ordeal as she took to Instagram on Sunday (pictured before)
In the snap obtained by The Sun, Abbie was seen resting in bed with only a small section of her face visible underneath the dressings which cover one side of her head, her torso and right arm.
It is not known when the picture was taken, however Abbie broke her silence on the matter on Sunday and told fans she’s ‘OK’ following the accident on January 19.
As well as reassuring followers she’s recovering in her Instagram message, Abbie warned others to be ‘careful’ after a YouTube tutorial went terribly wrong.
She also thanked staff at the Chelsea & Westminster burns unit for their ‘incredible care and treatment’ as she continues to improve seven weeks after her ordeal.
The influencer said: ‘I am sad I have been absent in the last few weeks and haven’t posted much with AJ, we so desperately wanted to be able to share daily vlogs with you all but unfortunately I have had an accident.
‘Whilst we were attempting to create a glass bottle into a vase following a YouTube tutorial it went terribly wrong and it resulted in me incurring injuries and burns requiring continuous hospital treatment over the past seven weeks.
‘I really need you all to be careful with what you’re doing and if you’re copying any YouTube videos. I will be OK, I love you all
‘I also want to say a massive thank you to the nurses and doctors and the Chelsea & Westminster burns unit for their incredible care and treatment.’
Recovery: The choreographer also thanked hospital staff at the Chelsea & Westminster burns unit for their ‘incredible care and treatment’
‘So much love for you!’ The Voice’s Lydia Lucy and fellow dancers Chloe Hewitt and Amelia Bath sent their well wishes to their pal
Also on Sunday, former Strictly star AJ declared ‘our followers’ messages keep us all going’ as he thanked them for their support during the latest episode of podcast, AJ v Curtis.
Revealing he’ll share more details on the scary ordeal in the near future, AJ said: ‘It came out that the there was an accident with Abbie. And I just want to say just make it quite brief, to be honest.
‘For anybody that hasn’t seen the story yesterday where Abby had an accident. That’s why I’m just saying thank you for all the lovely messages, thank you very much for all the love and support and the kind messages.
‘I know we haven’t replied to everybody. But yeah, thank you for that. And we will talk about it further down the line when we both feel comfortable.
‘So yeah, just thanks for that love. It means a lot on your support, keeps those positive and keeps us all going.’
AJ was also seen for the first time since his girlfriend’s injuries were revealed as he stepped out looking pained to buy papers and fuel on Sunday.
Since the awful incident, The Sun On Sunday reported that Abbie needed three skin grafts and made 20 hospital visits with AJ caring for her inbetween appointments.
A source explained how AJ quickly reacted to the fire and tried to put out the flames with a wet tea towel before calling 999.
Recovery: Since the awful accident in January, Abbie has needed three skin grafts and made 20 hospital visits
They told the publication: ‘Abbie was shocked and in a great deal of pain but AJ sprang into action to put out the fire with a wet tea towel.
‘He was terrified himself but he did all he could to stop her from burning. Abbie’s whole upper body went up in flames. It was like something from a horror film.’
Revealing how the duo are holding up, the source added that AJ has been there ‘24/7′ for his girlfriend and has been changing her bandages.
The 999 operator reportedly informed AJ an ambulance would take some time to arrive so he and Curtis drove Abbie, who was in ‘agony’, to the hospital themselves.
Abbie is thought to have then been admitted to intensive care before being sent to a specialist burns unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital the next day.
Speaking about how the accident happened, the source said that AJ and Abbie had been filming a video for their Instagram followers.
The clip involved dipping a rope in a flammable chemical and setting fire to it once wrapped around the bottle in order to cut the bottle in half and make a vase.
Support: AJ has been caring for Abbie at their home and changing her bandages
However the couple’s attempt went horribly wrong, with the bottle blowing up and causing Abbie’s hair and clothing to catch fire.
A spokesperson for the couple told The Sun On Sunday that Abbie is continuing to receive treatment and the duo wish to thank all the doctors for their ‘incredible’ care.
MailOnline has contacted Abbie and AJ’s representative for further comment.
AJ and Abbie have been dating since 2018 and seem to have gone from strength to strength during lockdown.
The I’m A Celebrity contestant recently gushed over his pro dancer love as he detailed how they’ve been discussing the future lots during the pandemic.
He told The Sun: ‘You know when you see a series like Below Deck or Selling Sunset and there’s a wedding? We always love talking about weddings.
Help: Curtis, 25, drove Abbie and AJ to the hospital on the night of the accident after they were told an ambulance would take some time to arrive (the brothers are pictured together in 2020)
‘We were best friends before we were in a relationship and I think that really hits home that we love spending time together.
‘We love doing everything together, to be honest, and it’s been great. There has been no downside, there’s been no arguments.’
Abbie has also gushed over her dancer beau in the past, admitting she believes AJ is ‘The One’ and that she was ‘going crazy’ without him by her side during his stint in the Welsh I’m A Celebrity camp last year.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Abbie said: ‘I am so desperate to see him – I am going crazy I feel like I have been lost without him.
‘All I want to do is hug him and kiss him – it’s been too long now! I definitely can see he is missing me.
‘While AJ has been in the castle he organised some gifts for me that I’d have during his time in there to show he was still thinking of me.’
Couple: Abbie and AJ have been dating since 2018