14.12.2025 20:56
15-year-old Engin Buğra İskender, who suffered severe injuries in a fire caused by the explosion of a teapot left behind at a hair salon in Kağıthane, Istanbul, narrowly escaped death with third-degree burns on his body. During an 8-month treatment process, İskender underwent 65 surgeries and shared his experience of the horror he faced and his struggle to hold on to life.
On January 12, Sunday, Engin Buğra İskender, who was spending time with his friends at a hairdresser in the Hamidiye neighborhood of Kağıthane district in Istanbul, put water in the kettle to brew tea. However, the 15-year-old boy got caught up in conversation with his friends and forgot the kettle on the stove. As a result of the kettle exploding on the stove, a fire broke out in the kitchen. As the fire spread to the refrigerator, Engin Buğra İskender tried to extinguish the fire by taking water from the sink; however, the growing fire caught his clothes.
SEVERELY INJURED The child was severely injured as the melting clothes stuck to his body. Engin Buğra İskender, who managed to get his friends outside, was taken to the Sarıyer Çayırbaşı Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital by ambulance after the first intervention of the medical teams dispatched to the scene upon notification. The child, whose condition was serious, was transferred to Kocaeli City Hospital after his initial treatment. It was learned that the child had third-degree burns on his body, was unconscious, and in critical condition.
THE EXPLODING KETTLE BURNED THE REFRIGERATOR Firefighters extinguished the fire that broke out in the hairdresser. After the cooling efforts of the firefighters, it was determined that the fire, which started from the kettle, spread to the refrigerator. Police teams launched an investigation into the incident.
"I SAID I WOULD EXTINGUISH THE SMALL FIRE" Iskender, whose treatment was completed a month ago, returned to his normal life. It was learned that Engin Buğra İskender would undergo cosmetic surgery in two years. Sharing his experiences, Engin Buğra İskender said, "I was getting a haircut. Then I heard a noise and ran here. When I arrived, I saw smoke coming out. Then I looked here and saw a small fire. I said, 'I can extinguish this.' Then I tried to put it out with water. I saw it wasn't going out. Then I ran to the bathroom; suddenly, smoke filled the bathroom, and I ran there. While I was choking, I tried to breathe by sipping a little water. At that moment, I don't know how it came to my mind. Then I came out, but I couldn't see in front of me. Then, I think the refrigerator exploded at that moment. The door wouldn't open either. I stayed in the fire for a few minutes. Then I came out, and I don't remember the rest. The gas behind the refrigerator exploded, according to what the firefighters said. I don't remember much; it was right next to the refrigerator. When the fire reached there, it exploded."
"I TOLD MY DAD 'I'M SORRY'" Iskender said, "Since the shop belongs to my dad, I remember telling him 'I'm sorry.' I remember screaming while taking off the clothes that stuck to me. They covered me with something cold. I don't remember anything after that. I came here. My dad allowed me to open the shop. I felt like I did it myself. That's why I said 'I'm sorry.' Before my dad left, he said, 'Son, is it more important than you?' Then we went to the hospital. My mom said the hospital wouldn't accept us; they made me faint. From there, we went to Kocaeli City Hospital. Thank God, Dr. Mehmet Özyıldız accepted us. When he accepted me, he made me better. Thank God for Dr. Mehmet."
"THEY PUT ME TO SLEEP SO I WOULDN'T FEEL PAIN" Iskender said, "I had 65 surgeries. I was in a coma for 12 days. They put me to sleep so I wouldn't feel pain when I woke up. When I woke up, I was dreaming a lot. When I got up, it felt real. I had three triplet siblings, and my dad had a lot of cars, etc. Then I saw such a dream; everything felt realistic to me; I don't know what kind of medicine they gave me. Then I got up, and a few days later, I went into surgery. That was for cleaning. At that time, I didn't feel any pain. I mean, I have a low sensitivity to pain; I'm not very sensitive. Then I had surgery, and then it was time for skin grafting. When I had the skin graft, it hurt a little. It hurt when they took it from my back, but the others didn't hurt much. After the skin graft, there was a bit of burning. These were very painful processes at that time. After finishing the painful process, they took skin again from the places where they had taken skin before. After taking it, those areas became wounds because the skin had thinned. This time, the wounds didn't close. We stayed like that for another 2 months; our process extended. Because it extended, they did skin grafting there again. They took skin from my head; they took skin from my groin. After taking it, the process extended even more, another 1-2 months. Because it extended, we stayed a bit longer. After 3-4 months, we finally got out again. Then I had a wound on my cheek. This time, it needed another skin graft. After that, the painful process continued again; but now, thank God, I am very well," he expressed.
"I HAD 65 SURGERIES IN 8 MONTHS" Iskender said, "It took a total of 8 months. I had 65 surgeries within 8 months, and this is without dressings. Including dressings, it might reach 100. It was a bit painful. Always anesthesia, always anesthesia. I have never had a fear of that since I was a child. For example, I had an accident while riding a motorcycle; my finger got cut off, and they stitched it back on. I still rode my motorcycle; I didn't give up. Then I fell during a race; I was almost breaking my spine, but I got up and continued the race, crying. I have never had that fear in my blood since I was a child. I started getting haircuts again; I am looking for customers again, calling friends; but I am still continuing. I do my sports, I ride my motorcycle.
He stated, "I am still continuing to do the old things that I could do before."
"THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT" Engin Buğra İskender said, "My biggest dream is to be like Kadir Alkan or to strive to be a good barber. By striving, I want to help people like me or disabled people who cannot see. They should not be introverted; I am like this, but personally, I don't stay at home. I don't care about the scars on my face, my arm, or my body. Thank God my friends are by my side. Even if they weren't, there are other friends, other things, other environments. For example, they can create a circle of friends and return to the old life. They should definitely not give up this fight. I didn't give up, I didn't lose heart, and I am still continuing."
HE NEVER LEFT HIS SON ALONE FOR A MOMENT His father, Cemal İskender, never left his son's side during this process. Throughout the time he was treated in the hospital, İskender did not leave his son alone, initially making him do light exercise movements in the hospital room. To help Engin Buğra İskender use his hands comfortably, his father sat in the barber chair and supported him so he could shave. Engin Buğra İskender did not give up on sports during his treatment; he walked, ran, rode a motorcycle, and swam. The father and son managed to get through the challenging process together while doing sports activities.
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