A NSW woman who was severely burned in an explosion at a brewery on the Central Coast remains in hospital in intensive care.
Jordy Hibbard, 24, was working in the kitchen at Six String Brewing Company in Erina when gas exploded about 11.30am last Monday.
Emergency services treated Hibbard for “severe burns”.
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A CareFlight helicopter with specialist paramedics then flew her in a serious condition to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, where she remains.
While it was initially estimated Hibbard had burns to 25 per cent of her body, this has now been revised to about 20 per cent.
Her partner Rhys Saultry told 7NEWS.com.au Hibbard has undergone one skin graft and her condition has improved, although she has a long recovery journey ahead of her and may require further skin graft surgery.
“She’s been intubated twice (and) can’t really speak,” Saultry said.
“That hurt her vocal cords. Usually she’s the loudest talker in the room.”
Hibbard is still in the ICU but her condition has improved, Saultry said.
“She’s doing better,” he said.
“There were complications with her first surgery.
“When they pulled her out she couldn’t really breathe.”
Hibbard was then diagnosed with COVID but is now testing negative and her breathing is “back on track”, Saultry said.
Doctors have estimated Hibbard will require about another four weeks in hospital.
“She had her first skin graft on Friday,” Saultry said.
She may undergo another skin graft next week but this “depends on how she heals”.
“Her hands and arms are … very burned,” Saultry said.
Hibbard will require “pretty much full-time” care and currently cannot manage usually simple tasks such as feeding herself, he said.
Community supporting them
The community support has been great, Saultry said, with family and friends offering food and help around their Woy Woy home.
Six String Brewing Company is also supported Hibbard in her recovery, creating a GoFundMe campaign on her behalf.
“They’ve been great,” Saultry said.
“They sent out a care package and ring constantly (to check on her).
“They’re trying to be as helpful as they possibly can.”
Hibbard “loves her job” as a cook at Six String, Saultry said.
“She loves that she’s found a place where she can be creative and is listened to,” he said.
Hibbard is keeping her spirits high even though she’s “in a lot of pain”, Saultry said.
“She’s looking at it as positively as she can.
“If you let it get to you, you’ll have a terrible time.”
The explosion is not being treated as suspicious.