A mother of two suffered agonizing second-degree burns after a tealight exploded in her face.
Marnie Hobbs, 52, from Chandler’s Ford near Southampton, Hampshire, took her Home Bargains tealight outside after it began ‘crackling’ following nearly two hours of burning.
As she watched the flame grow larger and went to blow it out, boiling wax splattered over her face and chest.
She said the events after the incident remain ‘hazy’ until she woke up at the emergency department of Winchester Hospital.
Now, more than seven weeks later, Ms. Hobbs is demanding that Home Bargains take responsibility.
“I bought a pack of 25 tealights for around £2.50 from the Eastleigh store in March, and decided to use one on April 2,” she said.
Recalling the incident, she explained, “The hot wax covered me from the tip of my nose, down my face, and over my chest.
“After arriving at A&E, I was showered with cold water for 20 minutes before a consultant dressed my burns.”
Marnie Hobbs, 52, from Chandler’s Ford near Southampton, Hampshire, watched the flame grow larger, and as she went to blow it out, boiling wax splattered across her face and chest.
She had taken her Home Bargains tealight outside after it began ‘crackling’ following nearly two hours of burning.
“I returned the following day so they could remove the blisters.
I’ve had two children, and I have never felt pain like this—it was the worst pain I have ever experienced.”
Ms. Hobbs emailed Home Bargains’ customer services about the incident on April 4, requesting an investigation into the safety of the tealights.
Six days later, she was informed that Home Bargains were “unable to provide further assistance.”
“The product in question is one of our highest volume sellers, with tens of thousands sold each week over many years, and this is the first complaint of this kind our safety and compliance team has encountered,” she was told.
Ms. Hobbs was upset by the company’s dismissive response and fears this could happen to others.
She said, “I would be mortified if this happened to someone else—God forbid it happens to a child.”
Ms. Hobbs said, “I’ve had two children, and I have never felt pain like this during the removal—it was the worst pain I have ever experienced.
I’m so glad I took the candle outside, because I can’t bear to think about the damage it could have caused to our home.
You trust that products from Home Bargains are safe to use.
This has been so traumatic and painful.”
In response, a Home Bargains spokesperson said customer safety is a “top priority” and confirmed a “thorough investigation” had been carried out.
“We are satisfied that the product meets safety standards,” they added. “We understand how distressing this experience must have been, and our thoughts are with the customer. We wish them a full and speedy recovery.”
