David 'Goldie' Atwood's family does not know exactly what happened to cause a fireball that engulfed the 61-year-old in flames while he was working on his hot rod at Muswellbrook last week, leaving him with severe burns to half his body.
The father of three remained in a coma - in a critical but stable condition - in the burns unit at Sydney's Royal North Hospital last night after the accident on Monday last week.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up online for people in the community to help the family of the former mechanic - who now works with heavy haulage trucks in Hunter mines - with travel and accommodation expenses facing them in order to be by Mr Atwood's side through his recovery.
Mr Atwood's wife Helen had gone out when the accident occurred and neighbours rushed to his aid when they heard the fireball and saw him on fire.
The blaze caused third-degree burns to 50 per cent of his body.
One of Mr Atwood's daughters, Courtney Mowat, told the Newcastle Herald yesterday that her dad's outlook remained a day-by-day prospect, but medical staff had told the family he was responding as best as he could to the intensive care treatment.
She said her dad loved an adrenaline rush and raced sprint cars before deciding to build his own hot rod.
But she said he was also reserved and "definitely not one to be in the spotlight".
"He's just dad, he has those horrible dad jokes," Ms Mowat said.
"He's got a wicked personality - he's very reserved but if you get to know him, that will come out."
Ms Mowat and her two sisters live in Queensland and the family is hoping that donations will take the financial pressure off the travel and accommodation requirements of being with their dad through his recovery.
Mr Atwood's wife plans to stay with him until he emerges from the coma but will then face the significant travel costs of commuting between Muswellbrook and Sydney during the next stage of his treatment.
The family is also hoping a group or company with some know-how might offer their time to finish building the hot rod - Mr Atwood many of the parts ready - so that it would be finished when he gets out of hospital.
The donations page can be found by searching Mr Atwood's name on the Go Fund Me website.
