A maths student suffered third degree burns after a plastic protein shake beaker containing boiling water exploded in his face.

Dion Chilton, 19, poured boiling water into the drink container to sterilise it but when he put the lid on the high heat and pressure caused it to explode.

The teenager said he feared he was going blind as the water scalded his face and his skin started to peel off.

In agony: Dion Chilton, 19, suffered third degree burns (pictured) after a plastic protein shake beaker with boiling water in it exploded in his face. He had poured boiling water into the drink container to sterilise it

Recovering: The teenager said he feared he was going blind as the water scalded his face and his skin started to peel off. Bandages were placed on his face (pictured left) after he was rushed to hospital in Ashford, Kent

His older brother Brendan, 25, found him writhing in agony on his kitchen floor and called 999.

Mr Chilton was rushed to the William Harvey Hospital in his home town of Ashford, Kent, after the accident at around 7pm on May 17.

Mr Chilton, who is studying at Kent University, said: 'I poured water from the kettle in a small flask, put the lid on and where the water was boiling and there was too much steam it just exploded in my face.

'All my skin started peeling off my face.

'I could only see black and I was panicking that I had lost my eyesight.'

Scalded: Mr Chilton, who is studying at Kent University, said he could only see black and was panicking that he had lost his eyesight. He has been told he will not suffer any permanent damage or scarring

How it happened: The 19-year-old is pictured with the plastic beaker which exploded in his face when he tried to sterilise it with boiling water. When the accident happened his skin started to peel off

Third degree burns: Mr Chilton (pictured with his injuries left and right) was found writhing in agony on his kitchen floor by his older brother Brendan, 25, who called 999. Mr Chilton was taken to A&E

He added: 'I suppose my warning is just to not let me sterilise your flasks.'

Luckily, Mr Chilton has been told he will not suffer any permanent damage or scarring and is expected to regain full sight.

His brother, who is Labour ward member for Stanhope on Ashford Borough Council, said the incident had highlighted the need for Ashford to keep its A&E department.

He said: 'Ashford needs its A&E department, as I have experienced first hand.'

Painful accident: Mr Chilton (pictured left) said: 'I poured water from the kettle in a small flask (right), put the lid on and where the water was boiling and there was too much steam it just exploded in my face'

Blistered: The extent of Mr Chilton's injuries can be seen in this picture. He said his skin began peeling off

Mr Chilton added: ' They were brilliant.

'I don't want to think about what would have happened if the A&E department wasn't in Ashford.'

The East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is considering closing the A&E department at the William Harvey Hospital to make up an £8million black hole in its finances.

The trust, which runs the William Harvey, Kent and Canterbury and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in Margate, has said having a single A&E department in east Kent is one option it is considering in its 'essential' reshuffle.