Burn teen home after 'miracle' recovery

Photo / Northern Advocate

A Tauranga teenager who was found on fire outside his family home four months ago is back with his family in what his mother calls a "miracle" recovery.

In July, Tenmark Nielsen was rushed to Middlemore Hospital in the middle of the night after members of his family woke to find him outside their home spinning in a ball of fire. He sustained burns to half his body, needed life support and things "didn't look good", mother Lelefu Nielsen said.

Doctors told Nielsen and husband Kaisa they expected Tenmark would need to stay in hospital for at least six months. But four months on Tenmark is home.

"I remember the first day he came home. That was a miracle, a happy day," she said.

Tenmark spent only four weeks at Middlemore before moving to Waikato Hospital for three weeks and then Tauranga.

Tenmark was "really happy" and recovering well, Nielsen said.

He still had to wear a pressure suit as part of his healing process but was walking and talking without issue.

Tauranga Boys' College, which Tenmark attended, had supported Nielsen financially so she was able to stop work and stay with Tenmark at Middlemore while Tauranga Girls' College had given boxes of groceries to the family.

"Every day I say to myself, 'How can I say thank you to all of the people who support me?' There's so many," said Nielsen.

She said the teachers from Tauranga Boys' College had helped by providing homework while Tenmark's friends and rugby teammates had also visited frequently.