Actor Tim Allen has shared an update on Jay Leno’s health after his friend was hospitalised with serious burns last weekend.
Leno, 72, was working in the Los Angeles garage where he stores his cars when one of the vehicles burst into flames.
The presenter and comedian later confirmed that he was doing okay, but that he had suffered ‘serious’ injuries.
"I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire,” Leno said. “I am okay. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet."
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Speaking to TMZ, the star explained how he had been in his garage working on his 1907 White 30hp steamer, fixing a clogged fuel line.
A fuel leak sprayed gasoline all over his face and hands, while almost simultaneously a spark triggered an explosion, in turn setting him on fire.
Thankfully, it sounds like Leno has now on the mend, with actor Tim Allen sharing an update on his friend after visiting him in hospital, saying that he’s doing well and even cracking jokes.
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He told TMZ: "Jay is good. It's wonderful because he's feeling better. I gave him some car magazines, he did some jokes, which is what we do."
When asked how his face was, Allen replied: "His face looks great... it didn't look all that good to begin with!"
Dr Peter Grossman, Leno’s lead doctor at the Grossman Burn Center, confirmed that the star had already had skin grafts from donor skin, telling CBS’ Inside Edition that he was also due to undergo another surgical procedure later this week.
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Footage shared by the programme also showed Leno inside a hyperbaric chamber, which Grossman said helps decrease swelling while also increasing blood flow with ‘good oxygenation’.
“And it helps decrease bacteria,” he added.
In the clip, a partially-obscured Leno can be seen inside the chamber wearing a blue hospital gown, his right hand and entire left arm bandaged.
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While his face is not shown in the footage, Leno appears animated as he gestures with his hands while speaking to the hospital staff member, who seems to be speaking to him through a telephone.
In another interview with Good Morning America, Grossman said Leno’s injuries were serious, but that he was ‘surprised’ by how well the comedian seemed to be handling things.
He said: “I am a little surprised at how well he’s doing, considering the seriousness of his injuries. Most people tend to be a lot more limited due to the pain.”
He continued: “He’s definitely had serious injuries. There are potentials for scarring, there’s a potential for some disfunction in some of the areas that he’s injured in.
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“But there’s also a possibility of a very good outcome.”
Topics: Celebrity
Jess Hardiman