WARNING: Graphic image below

A student says he is on the road to recovery after sustaining serious burns when a chip pan fire ripped through his family home.

Femi Orisan had returned to his home in Gordon Road, Strood after a night out with friends on Saturday.

The 21-year-old had been cooking food in the family kitchen, which he shares with mum Lola, 51, and older brother Remi, 24, when he fell asleep.

Lola, who works for the NHS alongside her oldest son at St Mary's Island Surgery, said: "He went out with friends and he came back in the early hours of the morning.

"At 3am I went to go to the toilet and as I was about to go back to bed I heard noise from downstairs.

"As I opened my bedroom door I saw smoke and then I heard some shouting."

When she entered the smoke filled kitchen Lola said her son was preoccupied with putting out the blaze and was not showing any signs he was hurt.

"It was not until I looked down I just saw blood dropping on the floor," she said.

The family immediately phoned for an ambulance which arrived shortly after the fire crews who spent an hour putting out the ground floor blaze.

Lola explained her son had tried to throw the chip pan in the sink when he slipped on the floor and the flames "engulfed his legs".

"He was more concerned about the situation of the house than himself. He was not screaming at all," she said.

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She added: "Even the paramedics said he should be screaming - he is such a brave boy."

Femi sustained serious injuries to his left leg and was sent to Queen Victoria Hospital, in East Grinstead, a specialist burns care unit providing life-changing reconstructive surgery.

The family has been travelling to visit Femi, who had graduated with a law degree from the University of Leeds in September and had been working for Amazon while he applied for a place at law school.

Lola is exhausted between the trips and her own hospital shifts but says she would prefer to work than stay at home.

And while the family are able to remain at the house the fire has completely destroyed the kitchen which has now been gutted and will cost thousands to fix.

Fortunately, some generous NHS colleagues have stepped in to assist the Orisan's in their hour of need.

After hearing about Femi’s accident, Nicole Hassell set up a fundraising page to raise money for a new kitchen, explaining: "No one should have to have nothing to make food especially at this time."

It has amassed more than £1,500 to date.

In addition, Lola says they have also been receiving kind donations of food from colleagues and neighbours to keep them going.

The mum says she is a proud woman who would not otherwise ask for help but feels she has been left no choice in the circumstances.

"Everyone has been great, " she said. "I never thought we would be in this situation.

"At this point in time I can't be proud. Even if I'm down to my last penny I find it difficult."

Meanwhile Femi will wait to hear from doctors whether his body has withstood any infection or complications from a skin graft.

If the operation goes well it is hoped the student will be discharged and able to return to his family and continue his recovery from home.

Yesterday he posted an update online from his hospital bed where he thanked people for their kind offers of support.

He said: "I'm in safe hands, East Grinstead's staff have been amazing with me and I feel like I'm ready to recover.

"I've got a couple of things left and I'm hoping to walk out of this place in not too much of a different condition than when I walked in.

"But on top of everything I just want to give a special thank you to everyone... that's really touched me and my family's heart."

Click here to donate to the Orisan family's fundraiser.

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