'Gas explosion' girl in critical condition

One of the four girls injured by an explosion in a Mirdif villa three weeks ago has returned home, but the most severely injured girl is still in intensive care.

DUBAI // One of four teenage girls injured in a gas explosion in Mirdif three weeks ago yesterday returned home after being discharged from hospital, her sister said, while two others continue to improve. Fatima Housee, 16, had been kept at Dubai's Al Rashid Hospital while she was treated for burns after the blast at her family home on June 18. Two of the other girls, Daniela Seddon and another girl identified only as Lina have also made considerable improvement, according to doctors, and are now walking and eating. The fourth and most severely injured youngster, Kim Oberholzer, however remains in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit. Dr Nael Abousidou, a plastic surgeon at the hospital's burns unit, said: "Fatima, Daniela and Lina are walking, talking and eating. "They are starting to resume their normal lives." Kim, 14, from South Africa, who suffered burns to 55 per cent of her body, developed a lung infection at the end of June, but Dr Abousidou said her condition has since shown signs of improvement. "Kim is conscious but is sedated," he said, adding that she had successfully undergone skin grafts on her hands and forearms. The blast in the basement of the Housee family's three-storey home left the girls with severe injuries including second-degree burns. They remained sedated, incubated and on ventilators in the hospital's intensive care unit for days after the explosion. Though the accident was initially blamed on a possible gas explosion, the exact cause remains unclear. The Housee family, who are from Mauritius, had lived in the house for five years. The girls have yet to speak to police about the incident. The family spoke of their relief at Ms Housee's continuing recovery. She is now able to stand and move about, her older sister said, adding she had now returned home. "Fatima still has some bandages on, but she has made lots of progress," Madiha Housee said. "The family are feeling so much better after her improvement." Dubai Municipality and Emirates Gas yesterday announced details of a campaign to increase awareness of gas safety. The two-week programme focuses on the safe handling, storage and usage of low pressure gas cylinders at restaurants, cafes and hotels. It will also stress safety precautions such as correct ventilation and maintenance procedures and easy access to fire extinguishers. [e-mail]