EXCLUSIVE: Cambodian gas station blast left me with horrifying burns - this is how I got my life back: US woman, 22, reveals incredible transformation four years after she was engulfed in huge fireball

An Ohio woman has revealed her incredible recovery from a horror gas station blast - with pictures showing her miraculous transformation exactly four years after she suffered severe burns to her whole body.

Abigail Alexander was just 18 when she and a British friend were caught up in a huge explosion while riding a motorcycle together in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The young women, who were teaching in the country at the time, were almost killed  when a fuel station burst into flames as they made their way to work.

A tanker truck carrying 440 gallons of petrol had ignited while delivering the fuel to a storage tank, injuring 13 people, including Abbey and 22-year-old Zoe Eleftheriou from Medway, Kent.

Shocking pictures show Abbey's severe burns and bandages covering her entire body in the aftermath of the explosion in August 2019.

Now 22, Abbey is barely recognisable, and has spoken to MailOnline about the traumatizing experience and her long road to recovery, saying: 'I didn't only manage to survive, I thrived'. 

Shocking pictures show her severe burns and bandages covering her entire body in the aftermath of the explosion in August 2019

Abbey now: While she sometimes still experiences pain as her nerves work to reconnect, she said 'it's not that often anymore' and her body is now visibly largely healed

The huge inferno Abbey and Zoe were burned in on August 14th, 2019, was caught on dramatic dashcam footage.

Abbey said the pair were 'instantly burned' in the fireball. 'I stopped dropped and rolled and then I was ran over by a car. 

'My coworker was able to get me up and help me walk to work where we knew we'd be able to receive help.'

The British and American teachers were the only foreigners injured in the blast, which also seriously wounded 11 locals. 

Both women's families faced huge medical bills and they had to receive treatment before being able to return home.

Abbey says 40 per cent of her body was covered in third degree burns, a prognosis which could be fatal if not treated properly. 

'My recovery was definitely not an easy one. Lots of scary uncertain days,' she said. 

The first clinic she went to put her in ice water, which she says she has since learned worsens burns

This picture shows Abbey shortly before she was intubated following the horrific explosion

Abbey said this was taken when her family saw her for the first time after she was intubated 

Unfortunately, her early recovery in Cambodia did not go as smoothly as might be hoped. 

The first clinic she went to put her in ice water, which she says she has since learned worsens burns.

She also claimed medics drilled an IV into her bone without any pain medication. Her injuries were so severe she had to be intubated, she said.

'I spent a long few weeks on the ventilator, I even managed to pull out my breathing tube at one point. 

'I struggled with hallucinations and 'false memories' and it took a long time for me to be able to decipher what was real and what was not.'

She said getting home from the southeast Asian country was a trial in itself.

'Getting a medivac plane that could handle flying 23 hours was a challenge in itself but the state department did an amazing job at getting that accomplished.'

She went on to be treated by a team of doctors at the Denver UC health burn unit, who she credited with helping her incredible physical recovery. 

While she sometimes still experiences pain as her nerves work to reconnect, Abbey said 'it's not that often anymore' and her body is now visibly largely healed.

Abbey is now bravely using her recovery experience to inspire and help other burns survivors

Her mental recovery was another story, Abbey said. 'I've struggled with my self esteem a lot since the accident happened. 

'I went from being an 18 year old girl who thought she was invincible, to being covered in burns, head shaved, and unable to even go to the bathroom by myself. 

'But thankfully, due to my family and friends continuous support I slowly regained my confidence.'

'And turned into the 'burnt bad b***h' I am today.'

Four years on, Abbey lives a normal happy life, drinking with friends and enjoying the outdoors. 

Four years on, Abbey lives a normal happy life, drinking with friends and enjoying the outdoors

Originally from Miamisburg, Ohio, she has since moved to Glendive Montana.

'It's a very small community that I love being apart of. If I'm not bartending at The Oasis bar, I'm usually spending time with my significant other Austin and our crazy amount of pets we have. 

'There's so many times in my healing journey where I thought I wouldn't make it and I just wanted to give up but I'm so thankful I didn't.'

Abbey paid tribute to her family for their continuous support, and her boyfriend Austin, 'for always helping me through my dark days'.

She is now bravely using her recovery experience to inspire and help other burns survivors.

'I am now active in the burn survivor community where I try and encourage others with my story,' Abbey said, adding: 'I try to constantly live every day like it could be my last.'