A victim of the Leopards’ Club fire last weekend spent another night in hospital and her surgeon predicted “she’s going to be there for a while”.

Dr. Christopher Johnson, who is helping to treat Laura Simmons, 45, and has been permitted by her to speak publicly said: “She’s going to need more surgery and skin grafts and therapy.”

Dr. Johnson made an attempt to help the woman after seeing a photograph of her severely burned hands and face in The Royal Gazette.

“When you see blisters like that, it’s second degree burns.

“When I saw her hand in the newspaper the first day I knew it was at least second degree,” Dr. Johnson said.

He has since diagnosed third degree burns on Mrs. Simmons’ nose and ear.

Yesterday in this newspaper the 45-year-old woman explained she endured one night of homelessness because her apartment was inhabitable.

“I had got nowhere to stay and winded up sleeping outside last night (Tuesday). It was cold and I had no blanket,” Mrs. Simmons said.

Housing Minister David Burch debunked that claim yesterday by telling other local media the woman was evaluated by the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) and a solution for shelter was cited.

When reached yesterday BHC Managing Director Major Glenn Brangman referred all questions to a Government spokesperson.

That spokesperson could not verify the information by news time last night.

Meantime when contacted by phone late Thursday, Mrs. Simmons’ husband, Brenton Simmons said he was with his wife Tuesday night sleeping just outside of the Leopard’s Club.

“We were on the porch. We couldn’t see to go up (into the apartment). It was too dark,” he said.

He also verified the meeting with BHC, but said: “Everything they had it was all full.”

Mr. Simmons planned to spend last night at his Corporation of Hamilton workplace on Dundonald Street, while his wife recovered in hospital.

Mr. Simmons said the Corporation is in the process of sprucing up one of its apartments which should be ready to temporarily house him and his wife by Sunday.

“Thank everyone for helping us,” he said, “I really appreciate it.”