10.01.2026 18:28
Mehmet Sezen, a 54-year-old father of three working in a mine in the Otlukbeli district of Erzurum, experienced a nightmare while trying to help his cold friend. Sezen poured fuel from a gasoline-filled canister into the boiler to make it burn faster, resulting in first and second-degree burns on his facial area and some parts of his body.
Mehmet Sezen, a 54-year-old father of three working in a mine in the Otlukbeli district of Erzincan, wanted to help his colleague in the mine who was trying to light the heaters due to the cold weather at the workplace he went to for shipment a while ago.
HE POURED GASOLINE TO LIGHT THE BOILER FASTER
Sezen, who poured the fuel from a gasoline-filled canister into the boiler to make it burn faster, suffered first and second-degree burns on his facial area and some parts of his body due to the resulting flare-up. Sezen was taken to Otlukbeli District Hospital by 112 Emergency Service teams. After the initial intervention here, Sezen was referred to the Burn Treatment Center of Erzurum City Hospital, where his treatment continues.
"FLAMES FLARED UP AS I SPRINKLED IT ON THE BOILER"
Sezen stated that he went to the mine due to shipment and said, "The water had frozen due to the cold weather, my friend called me from the boiler room to light the boiler. I wanted to help my friend, so we lit the boiler, I wanted to speed up the fire. In the meantime, there was a canister, I didn't know if it contained gasoline or thinner, as soon as I sprinkled it on the boiler, flames flared up and engulfed me."
"I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS GASOLINE"
Sezen expressed that he covered his face with his jacket to extinguish the fire that engulfed him, stating that he went through a great ordeal. Sezen continued: "I didn't realize that what was in the canister was gasoline; if I had realized, I wouldn't have poured it into the boiler anyway. Lighting the boiler is my job, the weather was cold, my friend was also freezing, I wanted to help. Such an incident happened while we were lighting the boiler. I have been in Erzurum City Hospital for 2 days, the services, doctors, and staff here are very attentive. They help us in every way. I thank all the staff in the center."
"THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE SUCH A MISTAKE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE"
Sezen stated that he suffered burns on his forehead, chin, ears, and some parts of his body due to the flare-up, saying, "I got burned, may no one else burn. Citizens should not mix flammable substances like gasoline or fuels into the stove or boiler. There could be greater dangers; they should not make such a mistake as much as possible."
Emre Nohutçu, one of the doctors at the Burn Treatment Center, stated that they are closely monitoring the patient who suffered first and second-degree burns on the facial area due to the flame burn, and that medical and dressing treatments are ongoing.