A Florida mother-of-five died after sustaining burns to nearly 100% of her body in a horrific fire pit accident in the family’s backyard that also sent her 11-year-old son to hospital .
Nicole Foltz, 38, and her husband, Jeff, started a fire last month to keep the bugs away from their Tarpon Springs home, where they were hanging out with friends, WFTS reported.
Jeff said the fire went out at some point as he walked inside and Nicole tried to relight it.
“I had just walked in and to my knowledge she decided to try and keep the fire going, to keep the fun going, and she put another log on it and there wasn’t much flame at all ,” he told Fox 13 News.
“But she just, I guess, smelled of pouring some gas on it, and it would come back on, and it did. I guess he must have traveled the gas stream to the gas can and it exploded in his hands,” Jeff explained.
He told WFTS that his panicked wife “actually stopped, fell and rolled like you’re supposed to.”
Despite her efforts, she was engulfed in flames and suffered burns to almost 100% of her body. She died three days after the November 14 crash.
Their 11-year-old son, Jeffrey, suffered second- and third-degree burns to around 40% of his body and spent 12 days in hospital, according to the outlet.
“I never left him in the hospital, which is difficult, especially because I feel bad for the other kids there. I can see what it’s like not having someone who can be there for you 24/7 by your bedside,” Foltz told WFTS.
The boy recently returned home, where he continues to recover from his serious injuries.
“He’s still pretty strong. I’m sure the whole team there was really surprised to hear that two days after we got home he was walking,” his dad told Fox 13.
According to a GoFundMe account for the family, the tragic mother was a longtime server and manager at The Tarpon Tavern.
“His radiant smile always filled the room. She was always there for everyone – there for every relative, every friend, every client, every co-worker, every birthday, every anniversary, every day for everyone,” fundraiser organizer Dan Jenkin wrote.
“Nicole will be missed, but our memories of her are forever,” he added.
Tavern owner Ania Bozena also remembered her beloved employee.
“She loved her job where everyone loved her not only for her hard work but for her personality and her friendship,” she told Fox 13.
“She was a devoted wife to her amazing husband Jeff. But above all, she was a wonderful mother who always put her family first,” Bozena added.
On Friday night, Tarpon Tavern and sister restaurant The Bistro donated 10% of its profits to the devastated family.
Foltz described Nicole to WFTS as “one of the best genuine people around. She had a ferocity in her. Everyone loved him.
He urged people to educate themselves and practice fire safety.
“I don’t want to read that someone else’s family has to go through this. It’s unimaginable,” he told WFTS. “It’s just one of those insane acts you don’t expect to happen in your family…gasoline is no joke when it comes to fire. You have to be careful or not do it at all.
He said the family would turn the fire pit into a birdbath, which Nicole always wanted in the garden.
