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Abbie Quinnen asked if boyfriend AJ Pritchard would still love her after fiery accident

Watch: AJ Pritchard recalls accident which left Abbie Quinnen burned

Abbie Quinnen repeatedly asked boyfriend AJ Pritchard if he still loved her in the aftermath of an accident which left her severely burned.

The 23-year-old dancer and influencer was creating a social media video with Pritchard — a former Strictly Come Dancing professional — in January when she became engulfed in flames.

Quinnen told The Sun she "saw my life flash before my eyes" when the accident took place.

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She added: "My hair caught fire and within seconds the flames had spread to my top and my body was alight.

“It was such a shock, I was panicking and screaming. I dropped down to the floor and I was rolling to try to put out the fire."

AJ Pritchard and Abbie Quinnen attend the press night performance of
AJ Pritchard and Abbie Quinnen attend the press night performance of "Message in A Bottle" on February 19, 2020. (Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images)

Pritchard and Quinnen were carrying out a test-run for the social media stunt, in which a flaming rope is wrapped around a glass bottle to transform it into a vase, when the accident took place.

Quinnen added: "The first thing I said to AJ was: ‘Is my face going to be OK? Are you still going to love me?’ I kept repeating this to him and I was shaking in horror.”

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Pritchard's brother — dancer and Love Island contestant Curtis Pritchard — drove the couple to hospital, where Quinnen was told she had second-degree burns on her face and third-degree burns on her body.

She has since had three skin grafts and is now just taking paracetamol, having initially been prescribed 27 tablets a day when she first left hospital.

Quinnen said she was most nervous about how AJ would react to her scarring, but he has stepped up to become her full-time carer.

She said: “I was so nervous seeing him, when we were reunited we were both welling up. But once we saw each other, I felt better.

“I remember trying to get home and being on a mission to hide, I was so traumatised by the way that I looked. AJ was just relieved that I was talking.”

Read more: AJ Pritchard pays tribute to late grandmother

Earlier this week, Pritchard revealed he felt "helplessness" when the fire started and that it "felt like time stopped".

He said: "Certain nights, I do wake up and think about what’s happened and especially if I’m watching TV and the scenario happens which has a naked flame or something in it. I will change the channel. And if Abbie is in the room, I change the channel very quickly."

AJ Pritchard with girlfriend Abbie Quinnen (Getty Images)
AJ Pritchard with girlfriend Abbie Quinnen (Getty Images)

Quinnen is now urging people not to attempt the dangerous "life hack" that she and Pritchard were trying to demonstrate for their followers.

She said: "I want to raise awareness about how dangerous this video is. I think that helping others will help heal myself."

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Pritchard stepped down from his role as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing last year in order to pursue other presenting and TV opportunities alongside his brother.

He competed in the 2020 series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, finishing in sixth place.

Watch: AJ Pritchard eliminated from I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here