A burn victim whose skin was left 'hanging off his body' after a blaze thanks humour for his recovery - regularly using his disfigured body to dress up as Freddy Krueger.

Freddie Beeson suffered 80 per cent burns after throwing what he thought was oil onto wood in his garden, only to find it had been mixed with petrol.

The 25-litre drum burst into flames in his hands, setting Freddie on fire and leaving him so terribly burned that only his face avoided disfigurement.

Freddie claims his sense of humour got him through, as he faced more than 30 operations, a three-month coma and nearly died on the road to recovery.

Freddie Beeson (pictured left, before the accident) suffered 80 per cent burns in a blaze - but still sees the funny side, dressing up as Nightmare on Elm St villain Freddy Krueger (right)

Freddie suffered burns after throwing what he thought was oil onto wood in his garden, only to find it had been mixed with petrol

But the 26-year-old, now referred to as Crispy by his friends, chooses not to let the horrific ordeal get him down.

In fact, he uses his scarred body to appear as the Nightmare on Elm St villain Freddy Krueger - and even managed to smoke a cigarette while waiting for ambulances.

Freddie, from Sandbach, Cheshire, said: 'I was burning some rubbish in the back garden and I had a drum of oil.

'It turns out someone had put petrol in it too and it exploded, setting myself and the garden on fire.

The 26-year-old, now referred to as Crispy by his friends, chooses not to let the horrific ordeal get him down

'I had to make my way back to the house while on fire - my mum was stood at the back door screaming her head off.

'I just had to calmly say 'wrap me up in the rug mum and put me out'. She was hysterical.

'She wrapped me up in that and put me out, then I sat on the doorstep having a cigarette while I waited for the ambulance.

'After it all happened, I was sat on the doorstep having a cigarette with my skin hanging off.

'Humour is a good way to deal with what I've been through. I was that kind of person anyway.

'People are shocked when they see me. I went to a rave and some guy cried on me when he saw me - I was only wearing a pair of boxers [so he could see my scars].

'I bought the Freddy Krueger mask for Halloween and I went to a nightclub [with it on]. I've never actually seen A Nightmare On Elm Street before but people loved it.'

After his mother saved his life by putting out the flames, Freddie was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital in Greater Manchester where he was put in an induced coma.

Freddie had more than 30 operations and nearly lost his life following the incident.

The 25-litre drum burst into flames in his hands, setting Freddie on fire and leaving him so terribly burned that only his face avoided disfigurement

The accident left Freddie was disfigured hands, with only a single finger on each that is still useable

Freddie said: 'I was induced into a coma as soon as I arrived at Wythenshawe Hospital. I'm told I flatlined during one of the 30-odd operations I had.

'My family were called in the early hours of one morning to say goodbye as a rare infection left me with a very small chance of survival.

'I was in a three-month coma and spent three months learning to walk and feed myself.

'I had 80 per cent burns. Now I've only got one finger out of both hands that works.

'The others are scarred right down to the bone and because of the graft I had on my hands, I can only just grip with my left hand.

'I can't work properly because I've no muscles in my hands. I'm forced to be on long-term sick leave.'

After an upcoming operation to amputate one of his fingers, Freddie plans to get his driving licence back, buy a specially-adapted mobility vehicle and train to become a HGV driver

The ordeal left him unable to care for himself for six months and he was forced to move in with his mother.

Following an upcoming operation to amputate one of his fingers, the young man plans to get his driving licence back, buy a specially-adapted mobility vehicle and train to become a HGV driver.

Freddie said: 'I'm currently waiting to get my driving licence back so I can drive a disability car. I hope to become a HGV driver in the future.

'The accident has affected me mentally. I came out of hospital still in a relationship but I was angry from feeling helpless all of the time.

'I felt depressed for about three years, then I got a dog and he's about the only reason I'm still here.

'I'm careful with fire. I've grown up on farms on my life and been around fire a lot. It was an accident.'