A single mother in Australia is recovering after a terrifying firebomb attack left her with severe burns over a quarter of her body.
Penelope Travers, a mother of two from Mandurah, south of Perth, spent more than two weeks in the hospital after the horrific incident. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, she needed multiple skin grafts on her face, neck, chest, and arms, as well as a blood transfusion.
Travers shared her story on a GoFundMe page set up to cover medical and living expenses. “Recently I was the target of malicious firebomb attacks on my vehicle,” she wrote. “The attacker didn’t get the firebomb through the car window during the first attempt, so instead set my carport on fire. When I went outside to try to put the fire out, the spray paint cans near the vehicle exploded in my face.”
The explosion left Travers with burns covering 25 percent of her body, forcing a 4.5-hour surgery and a long stay in the Fiona Stanley Hospital burns unit in Perth. “It felt like being fried, flesh fried, instant, quick, just burn,” she recalled.
Travers revealed that the attackers returned while she was in the hospital and successfully destroyed her vehicle. Her 16-year-old daughter was home at the time, but was fortunately alerted by their dog. “If my daughter hadn’t been woken up, it could have been a lot worse,” Travers wrote.
The trauma has left her unable to work for at least six weeks, and she’ll need to wear compression garments for the next year to help with scarring—though some scarring is expected to be permanent.
Originally from New Zealand, Travers said she hasn’t been able to access much government support in Australia. She’s now relying on community help to cover rent, utilities, groceries, and frequent trips to Fiona Stanley Hospital—an hour-long drive each way—for dressing changes and physiotherapy.
“I’m just a mom who’s trying her best to keep going for her kids. Any help would be greatly appreciated,” Travers wrote, thanking supporters for their donations. As of November 3, her GoFundMe page had raised nearly $2,900.
Travers told 9News the attack has been traumatic not only for her but for her children, who are still dealing with nightmares. Mandurah detectives are investigating the case, treating the attacks as suspicious. Despite her pain and ongoing recovery, Travers remains determined to keep moving forward for her family.