Emma Francis used to love walking, had plans to travel overseas and was in the midst of a thriving career in the real estate sector.
But all of this, and more has now come to a grinding halt.
In her own words, her "psyche has been forever changed."
"Since the accident, that has all basically been put to a stop," the 28-year-old from Safety Bay, south of Perth, explains.
The horrific accident Emma speaks of was caused by a product now deemed so dangerous, the Federal Government has removed it from the market.
Last weekend, the Federal Government introduced a new safety standard by banning the supply of table top ethanol burners.
The new safety standard will also require freestanding and fixed devices to meet a stability test, come with a fuel container and display warnings about refuelling hazards.
Suppliers have been given three months to transition to the new requirements.
The permanent ban on the burners – that weigh less than 8kg – comes after more than 100 injuries and at least 36 house fires attributed to the items across Australia since 2010.
Three deaths overseas have also occurred.
Emma's story is one of many, not only across the country but across the globe of people whose lives have been forever changed.
The 28-year-old was engulfed in flames by a table top ethanol burner at a friend's house last October.
The burner threw out a large fireball at her as she was standing one metre from it.
"I had not been there any longer than five minutes, I sat down, I was chatting to one of my friends," she said.
"One of my other friends decided to light the ethanol burner that sat on the table.
"A few seconds later this fireball has come directly out at me and hit me, and everything kind of changed from that point in the blink of an eye.
"There was just absolutely nothing that could have prepared me for that."
Emma said she still remembers "vividly" certain moments after the fireball hit her.
"There are a few particular moments that really just stand out in my mind," she said.
"The first being when I was initially hit, looking down and seeing myself on fire and patting myself very aggressively trying to put it out, but it's just not going out.
"I just remember at that moment, just that dread thinking 'holy smokes this is serious.'
"It just seemed to get more and more intense."
Emma's friends called an ambulance and used a garden hose to put out the flames.
"My partner arrived at the house just as the ambulance was getting ready to take me," she said.
"Apparently, I was telling my partner to call my boss and tell him I won't be in at work tomorrow."
Emma was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital where she was placed in an induced coma. She remained in that state for 17 days.
She had third-degree burns to her face, neck and chest.
She was treated in the Intensive Care Unit for three weeks and underwent plastic surgery to her devastating wounds.
She eventually went home after six weeks in hospital but will continue to wear compression bandages and a face mask for at least another year while also receiving laser treatment to her burns.
"This has robbed me of 12 important months," she said.
"My life has been put on hold and it is remaining on hold.
"I would love to go overseas, when that's going to happen I don't know.
"I would love to return back to real estate but quite frankly I am not sure if I am capable of doing so."
Slater and Gordon is currently assisting Emma pursue a claim against the manufacturers of the product which injured her.
"Emma has suffered devastating injuries which will have a lifelong impact upon her," her lawyer Karina Hafford said.
"She has sought our assistance to ensure she has the appropriate support to cope with the impact of those injuries".
Despite uncertainty about her future, Emma said she was staying positive and was pleased the Federal Government had taken action on the devices.
"I'm a very hard working person by nature, I always have been, it's in my DNA," she said.
"I'm a fairly resilient person and I'm quite confident.
"I think its an extremely positive step (the government) has had these products banned.
"I'm glad that it has finally happened."
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