A mother-of-five died after suffering horrific injuries when a gas canister exploded in her hand as she tried to relight a fire pit in her backyard.
Nicole Foltz died in hospital three days after the November 14 incident, which left 100% of her body covered in burns. Her 11-year-old son was also seriously injured.
The beloved mother, 38, was spending time with her husband, Jeff, their children and friends before tragedy struck in the backyard of their home in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Nicole had attempted to re-ignite the dimming fire in the pit by pouring gas over it when the canister exploded. The fire had been lit to fend off flies and bugs as they gathered outside.
‘She put another log on the fire. She poured the gas into it, and it ignited and blew the can up in her hands which caused her to run, panic. She actually stopped, dropped and rolled like you’re supposed to,’ heartbroken husband, Jeff, told local news station WFTS.
Nicole Foltz, 38, died last month after she suffered burns to 100% of her body after trying to relight a fire pit in the backyard of her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida
The mother-of-five, 38, was spending time with her husband, Jeff, their children (pictured together) and friends before tragedy struck in the backyard of their home. Her 11-year-old son was also seriously injured and is still recovering
In a heartbreaking Facebook post after Nicole’s death, Jeff posted a photo of himself holding Nicole’s bandaged hand. ‘We are on the path of recovery and healing in so many ways. I’m usually a man of many words but I’m left speechless in my grief. She is truly missed in so many ways,’ he wrote
In a heartbreaking Facebook post after Nicole’s death, Jeff posted a photo of himself holding her bandaged hand.
‘We are on the path of recovery and healing in so many ways. I’m usually a man of many words but I’m left speechless in my grief. She is truly missed in so many ways,’ he wrote on November 23.
Nicole’s son is still recovering from second and third-degree burns after spending 12 days in the hospital. Jeff said he hasn’t left his side.
‘I am thankful to all of the love and sometimes overwhelming support that I know is needed.’
In an emotional Facebook post after Nicole’s death, Jeff said that he is on a path of recovery and healing
Jeff and Nicole had been married since October 2020, according to his Facebook page
Nicole had attempted to re-ignite the dimming fire in the pit by pouring gas over it when the canister exploded. The fire had been lit to fend off flies and bugs as they gathered outside
The 11-year-old was wearing a jacket the night of the fire that was completely damaged from the blaze.
But Jeff later came across the anime shirt the child was wearing when the incident occurred and noticed that it was in perfect shape.
‘This is truly amazing while going around our backyard for the first time fully today I ran across this and cried this shirt is what my son was wearing the night of the fire,’ Jeff wrote.
‘This is his favorite shirt that his mother bought him over the summer I ask how it not burned [or have] one burn.
‘The jacket he wore fell apart and was basically completely burnt both his arms and face but didn’t burn this shirt.
‘I’m sometimes left now with questions of how. He is so happy to know he has this shirt that he can cherish forever as am I.’
Jeff and Nicole were married in October 2020, according to his Facebook page. The couple had been together for 14 years.
A GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover her funeral costs and on-going hospital bills for her 11-year-old son. As of Wednesday morning, more than $26,000 had been raised
Nicole Foltz, 38, died last month from burns that covered nearly her entire body
The 11-year-old was wearing a jacket the night of the fire that was completely damaged from the blaze. His shirt was found completely fine
Nicole worked at the Tarpon Tavern as a manager, and was remembered by her co-workers as being a ‘devoted wife’ and hard worker.
‘She always put a smile on everyone’s face,’ owner Ania Bozena told Fox 13. ‘She absolutely loved her work where everybody adored her not just for her hard work, but also personality and friendship.
‘She was a devoted wife to her amazing husband Jeff. But most of all, she was a great mother who always put her family first… we miss her terribly.’
Nicole’s co-workers helped set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover her funeral costs and ongoing hospital bills for her 11-year-old son.
They wrote in the heartfelt message: ‘The sudden and tragic loss of Nicole Foltz devastated our community. The backyard firepit accident also severely injured Nicole’s son, Jeffrey. Please help us come together to support Nicole’s husband, Jeff, young Jeffrey, and her other four remaining children.
‘Nicole was loved so much because she truly loved life. Nicole worked as a server/manager at The Tarpon Tavern for many years. Her radiant smile always filled the room.
‘She was always there for everyone – there for every relative, every friend, every customer, every coworker, every birthday, every anniversary, every day for every one. We will miss Nicole, but our memories of her are eternal.’
Nicole worked at the Tarpon Tavern and was remembered by her co-workers as being a ‘devoted wife’