Woman’s life changes after hair dryer accident: ‘It doesn’t even look recognisable’

Content Warning: This article contains descriptions of a traumatic accident involving severe burns and amputation. Reader discretion is advised.

The morning routine is a sacred ritual for many, a time to prepare for the day ahead with familiar comforts and small acts of self-care.

For Mary Wilson, this daily ritual took a devastating turn when a common household appliance, her hair dryer, became the instrument of a life-altering accident.



On 7 February, Wilson was going about her usual grooming routine when she suddenly fainted, causing her to collapse onto the running hair dryer.

Trapped in an awkward position with the device still blowing hot air, Wilson was unconscious and unable to move away from the intense heat.


andrea-donato-e8Eeh1gLSRU-unsplash.jpg
Mary Wilson’s usual hair routine turned into a tragedy. Credit: Unsplash


‘The way I (fell) on top of the dryer, like, it was under me, and I was in a weird, contorted placement, and the dryer was still running,’ she said.

Her partner discovered that the severity of the situation when the dryer was scorching Wilson’s skin.

'She’s telling me, “Your hand, your hand,”’ Wilson said.

‘I look at my hand. I don’t even register that’s a part of me. It doesn’t even look recognisable.'

The damage was severe; the prolonged exposure to the heat had caused extensive burns and nerve damage to her left hand.



In the hospital, the difficult decision was made to amputate her left hand.

The aftermath of the accident has been challenging for Wilson, who now faces the daily struggle of adapting to life without her hand.

'The biggest thing is not being able to do the simple things I want to do, or things take so much longer,' she shared.

‘You see it with hair straighteners and flat irons—they do have that ceramic plate that, once it gets to a certain temperature, it turns off,’ she said.

‘If it did, then maybe my injuries wouldn’t have been so bad.’



The community has rallied around Wilson, providing financial and emotional support during her recovery.

A restaurant from her area in the United States, Bohemian Bull, has even pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from an upcoming corn hole tournament to assist with her expenses.

You can watch ABC News 4’s coverage below (Disclaimer: The video includes graphic scenes):


Credit: ABC News 4 / YouTube

In a similar story, a mum’s chore of mowing the lawn became a devastating ordeal.

The incident needed urgent assistance, and she had to undergo a procedure that would change her life. Read more about her story here.
Key Takeaways
  • A woman has suffered the amputation of her hand following a freak accident with a hair dryer.
  • She believed she was shocked by the hair dryer, causing her to pass out and fall, leading to severe burns and nerve damage.
  • The woman advocated for hair dryers to have automatic shut-offs to prevent such accidents in the future.
  • The local community is showing support, with a restaurant planning to donate proceeds from an event to help her.
What measures do you take to ensure your daily routine is as safe as possible? Let us know in the comments below.
 
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This is scaremongering.
You can't say the hairdryer was at fault - the woman fell on it and remained on it while unconscious.
If someone fell into the ocean while unconscious and drowned, you could hardly blame the ocean.
 

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