Brit issues major warning after suffering second-degree burns when jewellery turned into ‘laser beam’
Warning: This article contains graphic images.
You're best off leaving your bling at home if you're heading to the beach to bask in the sunshine, according to this bloke.
Otherwise, you might end up suffering a similar ordeal to Ben Parsons - who was left bedbound for almost a week after his accessories caused him to sustain second-degree burns.
The sales executive, 27, is now urging people to ditch their jewellery when sunbathing in order to avoid the same fate.
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And seen as though the torturous tanning session left him in 'excruciating pain' and 'ruined his holiday' in the South of France, you might want to take heed of his warning.
Ben explained he was enjoying a break with his family when he unintentionally fell asleep on the beach for six hours.
He'd lathered on a layer of factor 30 suncream on his skin when he arrived on the sand, but this was no match for the scorching sun beating down on him all day.
Although the Brit woke up a few times during his lengthy nap, he explained he still didn't realise he was burning because the sea breeze was keeping him cool.
But he got a rude awakening after leaving the beach and returning to his family's villa - as a quick look in the mirror informed him he was 'in trouble'. Big trouble, in fact.
Ben explained that his entire body was covered in a painful, bright red burn, but the worst of the damage was centred around his neck...where his gold necklace was swinging from all day.
He reckons that the chain had 'reflected the sun like a laser beam' onto his chin and down to the base of his neck, causing pus-filled blisters to erupt across his charred skin.
Explaining what he believes went down at the beach, Ben said: "I was lying down and the necklace was on my chest pointing up at my neck.
"It was like the necklace had reflected and magnified the sun into a laser beam and it's been sizzling there."
The 27-year-old, from Weybridge, Surrey, headed back to his villa in a lot of pain, which he said continued to become 'progressively worse' in the coming days.
"I was bedbound," the sunbather said. "I couldn't move without being in pain because I was so burned. Every time I moved, it felt as if my skin was ripping or stretching.
"I didn't leave my bed for the next four or five days because I was in such excruciating pain."
Needless to say, Ben never made it back to the beach during this trip, as he 'had to stay laying down in bed'.
The burnt Brit added: "It definitely ruined my holiday because I didn't get to see sunlight again for the next week and a half, and then even getting up for dinner and lunches was painful.
"Even having my eyelids open hurt."
Thankfully, a family member who was holidaying with Ben is a nurse, so they were able to tend to his second-degree burns.
The relative applied a cream and wrapped bandages around his neck to protect his scorched skin - and Ben insists he has learnt his lesson about abandoning his bling in the sun after his necklace became a ‘laser beam’.
While emphasising the importance of regularly applying SPF, the holidaymaker said: "I would definitely say always be extra careful when wearing jewellery because whether it's real gold or not, it can potentially reflect off onto you.
"I definitely recommend taking all jewellery off so this sort of thing doesn't happen.
"Also, apply suncream regularly so you don't end up ruining your holiday - and all of the money you spent to get there."
Words to live by.
Olivia Burke