SALT LAKE CITY — A South Jordan man is recovering in the hospital with second- and third-degree burns to the right side of his body after an accident at a construction site.

Colton Brasier, 20, while working as a plumber at a job in the Avenues last Tuesday, caught fire when he went to fill an air compressor with gasoline from a metal gas can in the back of this trailer.

“He barely cracked open the gas can and it just exploded all over his face and caught his face and body on fire,” his sister Lexi Brasier said.

Although in shock, Brasier said her brother immediately knew what to do.

“He ran for a minute and realized to stop, drop and roll. And that put the fire out,” she said. “He had to call 911 himself.” 

Colton suffered burns to the right side of his face, ears, neck, back, arm and calves.

Doctors told the family he would need skin grafts in the near future and most likely reconstructive surgery on his nose.

“You don’t want to see someone you love, who is nothing but kind and loving, go through another struggle so young,” Brasier said.

His family says he is remarkably keeping positive and upbeat through the recovery process. They are grateful he is on the road to recovery and that this accident didn’t take his life.

“We are just so grateful he is OK, that is just the biggest blessing,” Brasier said. “The first few days he was comforting all of us more than we could comfort him but that’s just who he is.”

They are not sure what Colton‘s near future holds but his family is confident he will turn this experience into an inspirational one.

“I do feel like he will be able to help fellow burn survivors through this as well,” Brasier said.

Doctors told the family he could be in the hospital for up to three months.

Family has set up a GoFundMe* campaign to help with his medical expenses.

*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.