‘Blown up in my face’ Happy ending for Clare Valley couple after bonfire proposal disaster

The 28-year-old from the Clare Valley said he made a fateful mistake when preparing a romantic gesture for the love of his life.

A romantic bonfire proposal plan that turned into a fiery tragedy has a surprise happy ending, Clare Valley couple Adam Boots and Elizabeth Parsalidis say.

Father-of-two Adam was planning to propose to his partner of 11 years in front of a bonfire at their Clare Valley home last October but theday took a dangerous turn when he reached in to light the fire, which had been hastily doused in accelerant.

“She was on her way home, I was rushing a bit so I threw the fuel on … because I was rushing, I didn’t think I put that much fuel on,” he said.

“I just reached in to light it up and it’s blown up in my face.”

Adelaide man Adam Boots was burnt six months ago pouring accelerant onto a bonfire. Picture Supplied

Adelaide man Adam Boots was burnt six months ago pouring accelerant onto a bonfire. Picture: Supplied

Adelaide man Adam Boots was burnt six months ago pouring accelerant onto a bonfire. Picture: Channel 9

The 28-year-old said he was in a “bit of a shock” afterwards but managed to act quickly, drive himself to the local hospital.

Once the adrenaline wore off, Mr Boots said he was “in a lot of pain” but that didn’t stop the tragic romantic from popping the question.

“[The ring] was in my car parked out the front. I asked her to go get the bag out of the car and when she brought it to me, I took it out and did the deed.”

Ms Parsalidis told The Advertiser she was frightened for her partner but now also excited to be engaged.

“I’ve been waiting for a ring for a little bit … it’s exciting that it happened but it’s really sad that it happened the way it did,” she said.

“We have definitely grown stronger from this because it was such a rough time.”

Mr Boots spent seven days in hospital that October and then continued treatment for burns to his face, hand, arm, back and right knee for another couple of weeks.

Months later, he still has scars on his right hand and knee, reminders of the accident.

Adelaide man Adam Boots was burnt six months ago pouring accelerant onto a bonfire. Picture Supplied

Clare Valley couple Adam Boots and Elizabeth Parsalidis with children Eliyanah, 3, and Azariah, 19 months. Picture: Supplied

He also experiences sensitivity to the sun.

But despite the tragedy, Mr Boots said his life has now changed for the better. He and his partner are now planning to get married next March in Clare Valley and expecting their third child.

The couple said their religious faith has also become much stronger.

Mr Boots has now spoken out as part of a Kidsafe Australia campaign to warn others about the dangers of firepits and accelerants during National Burns Awareness Month.

“Don’t use accelerants if you don’t have to and be very vigilant if you are,” he said.

“And don’t rush around fires and take the time and make sure everything’s safe before you act.”

More than 2700 patients were taken to burns units across Australia and New Zealand over the 2021/2022 year – around 35 per cent of those as a result of burns from a flame, according to data from the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand.

Kidsafe SA chief executive Holly Fitzgerald urged people, particularly those with children, to be careful around fire pits as they become a popular backyard addition on the winter months.

“Most burn injuries are preventable and appropriate first aid can minimise the impact and severity of a burn injury,” she said.