Diner scarred for life after sausage explodes in her face

The accident occured when a waiter topped up a flaming chorizo sausage dish with rum

A woman diner was left with horrific burns after a Portuguese sausage dish exploded in her face. The victim was eating with friends when the accident took place at the Sporting Clube de Londres in west London.

Restaurant owner Rui Daniel Faria Velosa was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs for breaching safety rules.

Witnesses described how the flaming chorizo sausage dish burnt out of control when a waiter topped it up with rum at a table packed with people.

The woman, who spent two weeks in hospital and has since undergone two skin graft operations, said it was like being hit by a "flame-thrower".

The Sporting Clube bar and restaurant in Westbourne Green is a popular destination for football fans.

The victim was eating with a group of friends when the incident happened in May 2005.

Burning liquid escaped from the dish and spilled over the victim

The meal, served in a ceramic dish, arrived covered in burning alcohol, but the accident took place when a waiter added more.

At this point burning liquid escaped and spilled over the victim. One friend said it looked like a "big ball of fire".

The victim will to have to wear pressure garments on both hands for 23 hours a day for up to two years.

She has also suffered from flash-backs, panic attacks, anxiety and depression.

The prosecution was brought by Kensington and Chelsea Council following an investigation by environmental health officers.

The unnamed woman spent two weeks in hospital and has since undergone two skin graft operations

The restaurant admitted three charges relating to failing to make a proper risk assessment, failing to serve the dish safely and failing to report the accident.

Fiona Buxton, of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: "This was a truly awful accident that should never have happened. The victim's life has been affected terribly.

"I hope this fine gets the message across to other restaurants that the Council will not tolerate any business which does not follow the correct health and safety procedures in the workplace."

Some Portuguese restaurants serve dishes in which chorizo sausage is cooked over burning spirits in a shallow terracotta bowl.

In general, high alcohol spirits such as brandy, grappa or rum are used and customers have the meat cooked to their taste at the table.

No one was available at Sporting Clube, in Elkstone Road, W10, to comment.