“THIS is me, if you don’t like it do one” is the message from 19-year-old Troy Mackinlay who almost died after flames engulfed the bedroom he was asleep in.

The teenager, who wasn’t expected to survive the night, has made a miraculous recovery since the fire broke out in Shildon on October 14 last year.

Troy has released the photo showing the extent of his burns - which covered 85 per cent of his body - in a brave show of defiance.

After months in intensive care in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, Troy has been moved to the burns unit where he will continue on the road to recovery.

Troy’s sister, Abra Wood, said: “Troy asked us to take a photo and upload it on to his Facebook account, he said to say ‘this is me, if you don’t like it then do one.’

“This is the only picture we have taken of Troy in 15 weeks. I’m incredibly proud of him.”

Since sharing his photo online, Troy has received thousands of positive messages offering support.

One of the nurses who has cared for Troy in the RVI commented: “Well done Troy, I looked after you on your last night before you moved to the burns unit. I said from the start this will all be a memory soon and you will get there. Keep up your hard work my darling.”

Mrs Wood said: “After spending 14 weeks on the critical care unit Troy is awake and he can talk with the speaking vale on.

“He’s still a very, very poorly boy and he still has a very long way to go, but he is doing this.

“He’s just generally making a miracle recovery and we are so proud we really are.”

Troy was initially only given a five per cent chance of survival and his family were told to prepare for the worst.

Mrs Wood added: “It’s a miracle, it really is. The doctors told us they didn’t think he would make it through the night and warned us to prepare for the worst.

“We were in the waiting room for around ten hours the day it happened before we got to see him and it felt like forever.

“The whole family was there and it was horrible not knowing whether he was going to survive or not.

“A few days passed and we thought wow he’s still alive and from then we saw each day as a bonus. 

“15 weeks on and he is still getting better every day. A few weeks ago they had him stood up and out of bed.

“I couldn’t believe it when they told me, he is doing absolutely amazing.”
Emergency services were called to the house fire in Albert Street, Shildon, just after 7am on Friday, October 14, and arrived minutes later to find Troy and his cousin, Tommie Vayro, making their way out of the house moments before the upstairs windows shattered.

The pair were upstairs when the fire broke out in the back bedroom of the mid-terraced property.

They were staying at their grandmother’s house after helping her move in a few days earlier.

Since the incident, Troy’s family and friends have been fundraising and more than £1,000 has been donated online in a few days.

Mrs Wood has praised the NHS saying: “Everybody should be grateful for the NHS because you don’t know when they may save your life. 

“All of the staff that have been looking after Troy have saved his life and without them he would have died.

“We would like to say thank you to everyone at the RVI in Newcastle and to the NHS, they do save lives and need the credit they deserve.”

A fundraiser will take place on Saturday, April 8, in Shildon Working Mens Club from 10am till 3pm.

There will be a raffle, a tombola and stalls which are available for £12.

Troy's family are raising money for him, to donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/abra-wood