jay leno with today about the accident that left him with severe burns last month as he told co-host Hoda Kotb his face was “on fire”.
Leno spent nine days in hospital, including an extended period in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, as doctors struggled to treat burns and perform skin grafts.
In the interview, classic car enthusiast Leno said he had been working on a white 1907 steam car on Nov. 12 when the fuel line became clogged. He worked with a friend, Dave Killackey.
“I was under it, trying to unclog it, so I said, blow some air through the line,” Leno said. Then, he said, there was a “poof” and “all of a sudden my face was filled with gas, and then the light suddenly came on and my face was on fire.”
“I said to my friend, and I said, ‘Dave, I’m on fire here,'” Leno recalled.
Killage described the scene as a “wall of fire” and said he “couldn’t even see his own face”.
“I grabbed his head and pulled his head into my chest,” Killage said. today.
After putting out the fire, he suggested that Leno go to the bathroom to treat the burns. But, “It’s horrible. It’s a scary thing. It doesn’t take a genius to say ‘Call 911,'” Killackey said.
The paramedics came, but Leno wanted to go home first, and didn’t go to the hospital until the next day, driving with his wife. Kottb said he was treated at the Grossman Burn Center in West Hills but refused any pain medication.
Leno’s surgeon, Peter Grossman, told PEOPLE, “When he came in, he had deeper burns than I expected. Jay was definitely an outlier in terms of his recovery, given the severity of his injury.” ’ ” He underwent two skin grafts, according to People magazine.
Leno also returned to stand-up, appearing at the long-running Comedy & Magic Club.
He told PEOPLE, “I know how bad it can be. But I’m fine. And I’m sure I’m going to keep doing the same stupid things I’ve been doing. Just be a little more careful.”
