Lucio opens up on shock of life-threatening fireplace accident: ‘Second chance’

Former Inter and Juventus defender Lucio has opened up about the shock of a life-threatening domestic accident that left him hospitalised for 20 days earlier this year as a result of an exploding fireplace at a friend’s house on his 47th birthday. 

Lucio, who was a member of Inter’s treble-winning squad in 2010 and later had a brief spell with Juventus, was admitted to intensive care in May after being left with burns covering 18% of his body. 

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Brazilian explained that a fireplace had exploded at his friend’s house during a get-together for his birthday. 

“I’m here to tell you, God gave me a second half in the game,” Lucio told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It will take time to get over the shock, especially mentally.”

Lucio: ‘A friend threw a can of alcohol on the fire, then there was an explosion’

Lucio feels that the psychological trauma stemming from the incident is jus as severe as the physical scars that he has been left with. 

“It will take a few more months before we return to 100%,” he explained. “But I can say that the worst is behind us. 

“The hospitalisation was the hardest part, a real trauma. Burns are a difficult type of injury to deal with. I’m still continuing the treatment on my skin, which is a long process, but I’m improving.” 

Lucio went on to give a detailed description of the events leading up to his hospitalisation. 

“It happened suddenly while I was having dinner at a friend’s house shortly after celebrating my 47th birthday on May 8. 

“At one point, the fireplace had gone out, and unfortunately, a friend threw a can of alcohol on it in an attempt to revive the fire, and then there was an explosion. 

“I only remember the flames being on his face, arms and legs. My wife wasn’t injured, and at that point, I jumped into the pool. 

“I was transferred from Rio Grande do Sul on May 21, and I remember the difficulty of sleeping because of the pain. I’ve never spent so much time in the hospital/ The operations were required to remove certain bandages and dressings.” 

Recovering well four months down the line, Lucio has taken a valuable life lesson from the incident. 

“What happened to me has to remind us how important it is to take care of ourselves and of others. I experienced something I never could have imagined, but I learned that it doesn’t take much to avoid a potential tragedy: Attention, carefulness, simple gestures. 

“Take care of yourself, protect yourself, it’s worth it.”