Brit left with serious burns after sunbathing with jewellery
Ben Parsons was on holiday with his family in the South of France when he fell asleep on a beach for six hours after applying just one layer of factor 30 suncream.
The 27-year-old says he woke up several times throughout the mammoth nap but didn't realise how strong the sun was because the wind was keeping him cool.
Readers vote Does suncream expire?
Yes
No
I don't know Vote now
It was only when he left the beach to return to his family's villa that he realised he was 'in trouble' as his whole body was covered in a painful, bright red burn.
British man's holiday 'ruined' by jewellery sunburn
The worst of the burns were from where the gold necklace he was wearing had 'reflected the sun like a laser beam'. (Image: Kennedy News & Media) The worst of the burns were from where the gold necklace he was wearing had 'reflected the sun like a laser beam' - causing pus-filled blisters to erupt from his chin down to the base of his neck.
Ben was left bedbound for five days due to the severity of the burns, which were so painful that he says it felt like his skin was ripping or stretching every time he moved.
He says the ordeal 'ruined' his holiday as he was unable to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.
The sales executive is now warning sunseekers to regularly apply SPF and take their jewellery off when sunbathing.
Ben said: "I was lying down and the necklace was on my chest, pointing up at my neck.
"It was like the necklace had reflected and magnified the sun into a laser beam and it's been sizzling there."Once I got up from the beach, I was in pain and that was when I realised I'd definitely [been] burnt."But then once I got back to my house, which was another hour from the beach, that's when I realised that I was in a bit of trouble."It got progressively worse for the next two days to the point where I was bedbound."I couldn't move without being in pain because I was so burned that every time I moved, it felt as if my skin was ripping or stretching."I didn't leave my bed for the next four or five days because I was in such excruciating pain.
"I didn't end up going back to the beach for the rest of the holiday and I had to stay laying down in bed."It definitely ruined my holiday because I didn't get to see sunlight again for the next week and a half, and then even getting up for dinner and lunches was painful."Even having my eyelids open hurt."Luckily, a family member on holiday with them was a nurse, so they got a cream to treat the burns, and wrapped bandages around his neck to protect his scorched skin.
Recommended Reading
Now, Ben is encouraging other people to apply SPF and take their jewellery off when sunbathing to avoid the same fate.
Ben said: "I would definitely say always be extra careful when wearing jewellery because whether it's real gold or not, it can potentially reflect off onto you.
"I definitely recommend taking all jewellery off so this sort of thing doesn't happen.
"Also, apply suncream regularly so you don't end up ruining your holiday and all of the money you spent to get there."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Turkey's Marmaris tops ranking of cheapest family holiday destinations
The port city has the lowest prices out of 16 popular locations for a basket of 10 tourist items, Post Office Travel Money said. This included just £67.67 for a three-course meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks. Other low prices included 16p for a 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, £1.81 for a bottle or can of cola at a cafe or bar, and £2.61 for insect repellent. Post Office Travel Money said the low prices for UK visitors are partly due to a sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, was found to be the second-cheapest destination, with Portugal's Algarve taking the third spot. Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said: 'The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. 'However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse. 'Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around 10% more than a year ago, and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.' The total price for the basket of goods at Marmaris (£128.99) was nearly half the price compared with the most expensive destination analysed, Spain's Ibiza (£242.79). Prices for UK holidaymakers have risen in 13 of the 16 locations. Ms Plunkett added: 'We found big price variations in the destinations surveyed, particularly comparing those in the eurozone. 'For example, prices in the Algarve are almost £100 lower for the same 10 items surveyed than in Ibiza. 'This makes it vitally important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Turkey's Marmaris tops ranking of cheapest family holiday destinations
The port city has the lowest prices out of 16 popular locations for a basket of 10 tourist items, Post Office Travel Money said. This included just £67.67 for a three-course meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks. Other low prices included 16p for a 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, £1.81 for a bottle or can of cola at a cafe or bar, and £2.61 for insect repellent. Post Office Travel Money said the low prices for UK visitors are partly due to a sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, was found to be the second-cheapest destination, with Portugal's Algarve taking the third spot. Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said: 'The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. 'However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse. 'Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around 10% more than a year ago, and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.' The total price for the basket of goods at Marmaris (£128.99) was nearly half the price compared with the most expensive destination analysed, Spain's Ibiza (£242.79). Prices for UK holidaymakers have risen in 13 of the 16 locations. Ms Plunkett added: 'We found big price variations in the destinations surveyed, particularly comparing those in the eurozone. 'For example, prices in the Algarve are almost £100 lower for the same 10 items surveyed than in Ibiza. 'This makes it vitally important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting.'
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Turkey's Marmaris tops ranking of cheapest family holiday destinations
The port city has the lowest prices out of 16 popular locations for a basket of 10 tourist items, Post Office Travel Money said. This included just £67.67 for a three-course meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks. Other low prices included 16p for a 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, £1.81 for a bottle or can of cola at a cafe or bar, and £2.61 for insect repellent. Post Office Travel Money said the low prices for UK visitors are partly due to a sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, was found to be the second-cheapest destination, with Portugal's Algarve taking the third spot. Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said: 'The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. 'However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse. 'Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around 10% more than a year ago, and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.' The total price for the basket of goods at Marmaris (£128.99) was nearly half the price compared with the most expensive destination analysed, Spain's Ibiza (£242.79). Prices for UK holidaymakers have risen in 13 of the 16 locations. Ms Plunkett added: 'We found big price variations in the destinations surveyed, particularly comparing those in the eurozone. 'For example, prices in the Algarve are almost £100 lower for the same 10 items surveyed than in Ibiza. 'This makes it vitally important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting.'
