Tangaroa Yorke, a teacher-aide from Rotorua, was covered in burning methylated spirits after a fire "blazed out" of a fish smoker at his brother's house inKatikati on July 4.
The accident put a huge strain on the 20-year-old and his pregnant partner as it put him out of work, cutting income completely.
A Givealittle page was set up by his boss to help raise funds for his family, with the community getting behind him and raising $5353 as at 10am Tuesday.
His sleeve was burnt off and his arm burnt all the way around.
His family were left in shock "and they were scared, really scared," he said.
Tangaroa Yorke was covered in burning methylated spirits after a fire "blazed out" of a fish smoker. Photo / Supplied
His burns were accompanied by blisters and a small burn on his face near his eye.
He was taken to Waikato Hospital at 3am the next day, where he has been since.
Moving out of bed was agonising but he walked for the first time last week - practice for the goal he has for the birth of his first child; a baby boy, due on August 23.
"I want to be able to just walk into the room and meet him."
Yorke works at Lynmore Primary School, with principal Lorraine Taylor making the Givealittle page to raise funds for his family while he can't financially support them.
"When he rang me, he was most concerned that his Lynmore School sweatshirt was burnt."
