ORLANDO, Fla. – A man from Orlando who survived a fiery crash earlier this year has spoken to FOX 35 about the terrifying incident for the first time.
Brandon Dookharan, aged 23, lost control of his vehicle in February after another driver suddenly executed a U-turn right in front of him.
As revealed by body camera footage released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office this week, his car became engulfed in flames, leaving him trapped inside.
“At that moment, you’re truly contemplating, ‘Will you make it through this or not?'” Dookharan expressed.
Deputies acted swiftly to extricate him from the vehicle and extinguish the fire before the arrival of firefighters.
“They managed to pull me out, and I saw another opportunity to live, survive, and endure the process,” Dookharan recounted.
He spent three months in the hospital, enduring over a dozen surgeries to address burns covering 43 percent of his body.
“It’s been an arduous journey,” noted close friend Gabrielle King. “But he’s here, alive. That’s what truly matters.”
Dookharan and his attorney have indicated that his medical expenses have surpassed $4 million, and they are actively working to reduce that amount.
In the interim, he’s aiming to secure government assistance to aid in covering his living costs as he continues his recuperation from the injuries.
He harbors the aspiration of eventually reclaiming the life he had before the accident.
“I aspire to return to my job and the outdoor activities I enjoyed before the incident,” Dookharan stated.
For those interested in supporting Dookharan, his family has established a GoFundMe campaign to assist with his immediate financial needs.
