Friends and colleagues are rallying to support a man who was badly burnt in a house explosion suspected to have been caused by a gas leak last week.

Bresly Gomez Fernandez, a Costa Rican national and father of two, was left in critical condition after the blast tore through his rental apartment on Westdale Lane, Southampton, on Wednesday evening.

Mr Fernandez, 31, continues to receive medical treatment at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore where he was airlifted.

It emerged that Mr Fernandez, a respected barber for Luxury Cuts Studio on Reid Street in Hamilton, had been preparing for his two children and girlfriend to relocate from Costa Rica to Bermuda in just under two weeks when disaster struck.

One of Mr Fernandez’s friends, Andrew DeCosta, said he was so upset after visiting his friend in the Intensive Care Unit in Bermuda right after the explosion and seeing the extent of his injuries that he knew he had to do something.

Mr DeCosta launched a GoFundMe page, which is titled “Support Bresly’s Recovery After The Explosion” to raise funds for his friend’s medical bills and is exploring getting a temporary fundraising licence.

Luxury Cuts is also going to help Mr Fernandez financially by covering not only the employer’s portion of health insurance, but also Mr Fernandez’s portion to help drive down costs.

Mr DeCosta told The Royal Gazette: “Understating what Bresly is going through, what he has lost, his medical bills … I couldn’t walk away without doing anything. He needs a fresh start.

“Once the time is right, money will go to towards Bresly for the rest of his medical bills and maybe even to help refurnish his house. The damage to the home is very extensive and he lost a lot of his personal belongings.

“His friend who travelled with him to Baltimore called me on video chat last night from his hospital room and he looked much better than when I last saw him. He was opening his eyes and I heard him talk for the first time [since the explosion].

“He knows who everyone is and can respond to questions. It’s a huge improvement, but he still has a long journey ahead of him.

“He is so glad it didn’t happen when his family would have been here. His plan was to fly out to meet them and bring them here in just under two weeks. He said it was a miracle — it could have been much worse.

“Bresly was so close to his dream coming true. He was well into setting up accommodations and he was buying a second-hand car.

“His family are very aware of the support coming from the island. Their main concern is his recovery. We really do need as much support as possible.”

Kenton Trott, the owner of Luxury Cuts and Mr Fernandez’s landlord and friend, called it “heart-wrenching” to hear the news of the incident.

“He is my barber, my employee, my friend and tenant — it hits me from all angles,” he said.

“When the idea came up for GoFundMe, I was fully on board. The company will cover the insurance.

“When he was talking to me, it filled my heart; he is so positive and optimistic. He’s a fighter.”

The appeal rapidly raised more than $44,000 with an overall target of $75,000.

Neighbours also rallied to the cause while police officers and members of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service sifted through the debris the morning after the explosion with many volunteers helping to clear the wreckage.

Mr DeCosta spoke about the importance of Mr Fernandez’s two children and girlfriend in his life, adding: “He lights up and smiles when he says all their names.”