Fort St. John man comes a long way since workplace accident resulted in burns to nearly 80% of body

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John man who suffered burns to nearly 80 per cent of his body has come a long way since a workplace accident, according to his mother.

Aric Stewart was airlifted to a Vancouver hospital and put into a medically induced coma after an alleged explosion at his work on October 12th. 

The only report of an explosion in Fort St. John in October occurred in an industrial area off East Bypass Road and 78th Street. Officials haven’t confirmed if an explosion actually took place or not.

Aric’s mom, Stephanie Stewart, said he’s come so far since the accident and is doing well.

Aric has gone through many skin graft surgeries due to the extent of his burns, she added.

“They only have so much area that’s left unburnt on him that they can use,” Stephanie said.

The doctors have to use Aric’s skin for the grafts because his body would reject a donor’s.

“So they have to keep going back and using [his] donor areas… They can only do so much at once because there’s only so much available, and then it has to heal, and they can do it again.”

In addition to the surgeries, Aric has been going to physiotherapy since coming out of the coma to maintain his range of motion.

This week, he was able to stand for the first time since the incident.

“We’ve been told he’s ahead of the game for the extent of his injuries,” Stephanie said.

“Honestly, with all the churches and everybody that’s been praying and sending motivating words and thoughts and even voice messages from his friends, it’s been really helpful.”

Stephanie said the doctors have warned the family there will still be ups and downs and lots to learn, but he is in good spirits.

“We asked him if he was practicing doing his jaw exercises, and he kind of woke right up, and he was like, ‘I’m practicing eating doughnuts,’” Stephanie said.

Accommodations for Aric’s family have been taken care of through the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, an initiative heavily supported by the Fort St. John Professional Firefighters Charitable Society.

“I can’t put in enough good words for them,” Stephanie added.

Stephanie also thanked the community, the first responders and everybody involved in Aric’s journey.

“It’s not somewhere you’d expect yourself to be in, to have the community’s support behind you is really amazing,” Stephanie said.

Every donation made to the GoFundMe Aric’s great-uncle Chris created will be given to Aric’s wife, Ayla Osborne-Stewart. 

E-transfers can also be sent to aylarayosborne@gmail.com.