Abbie Quinnen praises boyfriend AJ Pritchard for his support as she recovered from burns

Abbie Quinnen has paid a loving tribute to friend AJ Pritchard and praised his support as she recovered from second and third degree burns.

The dancer, 25, required three skin grafts after a YouTube video she was filming with her boyfriend, 27, went horribly wrong and saw a wine bottle explode on January 19, 2021, setting her hair and clothes on fire.

In an exclusive conversation with MailOnline, she said: “I can’t thank the people at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital enough. AJ has been with me at every appointment, he is always there and holding my hand.. he is honestly the best.

“I haven’t seen him in a while though, I should see him tonight. He’s been away to film something exciting, it’s top secret, so I can’t tell you.’

Nearly two years after her injury, Abbie said she continues to receive regular treatment.

She said: ‘I’m doing so much better, I can’t thank the NHS enough for what they’ve done for me. I still go every six weeks for laser and microneedling.

“It was supposed to be Monday but it’s now Friday because of the Queen’s funeral as it’s in Chelsea so the roads are all closed that day.

Horror accident: The dancer, 25, needed three skin grafts after a YouTube video she was filming with her boyfriend, 27, went horribly wrong and saw a wine bottle explode and set her hair and clothes on fire on January 19, 2021

It comes after Abbie candidly revealed that: AJ would ‘cry hysterically with guilt’ after her fireball accident.

She said The sun: ‘There were times when I found AJ hysterical with guilt and helplessness and that would really upset me!

Abbie and AJ started dating in 2018 after they met when she was a dancer on his tour.

She continued, “It definitely affected our relationship, but I think mostly for the better because it showed me how much he cared and loved me.

The duo were trying to upcycle a wine bottle into a vase when the accident happened.

Abbie previously said she feared for her life when the fire started, while AJ spoke of how “seconds felt like a lifetime” as he tried to put out the flames that consumed his partner.

She explained about Lorraine that, while she was recovering, she feared she would “never look the same again” and could not return to her dream job to perform.

He said of her recovery: ‘It’s unbelievable that the hospital, the surgeons, the nurses have helped so much. The skin is incredible [in how it recovers], while Abbie added: ‘I’m doing a lot better than I was, that’s for sure. My face is almost healed now.’

Abbie said, “I think when it happened I thought the worst, my face will never look the same again, I’ll always have scars on my body…

“I will never be able to dance or perform and do what I love most, so I immediately thought this was it for me. Fortunately my face is healing very well.’

Abbie completed the London Half Marathon in 2021 and continues to raise money for burn victims.

Candid: It comes after Abbie candidly revealed that AJ would ‘cry hysterically with guilt’ after her January 2021 fireball accident