Man loses everything after yurt home ‘burned to the ground’ | UK | News

In a cruel twist of fate, a 63 year old who chose a self-sufficient lifestyle in the Sussex countryside lost his yurt to a devastating fire and explosion, following a life-threatening health scare.

Mark Mansbridge, a resident of Lewes, found himself in a dire situation on February 11 when a blood clot near his heart prompted an emergency trip to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Being described as “nearly a goner”, Mark faced further adversity just two weeks later when he was informed by the landowners where he lived for three years that his Mongolian yurt had caught ablaze.

The unfortunate inferno began when a friend, intending to protect the yurt from dampness during Mark’s hospital stay, stoked a fire in the stove but inadvertently kindled a disastrous fire with an errant ember. The ensuing flames found their way to the gas tanks, leading to an explosion that sent everything “blew sky high”, leaving Mark bereft of his home and most belongings.

A man who devoted his career to aiding those without shelter, Mark ironically finds himself registered with the council as homeless and placed in temporary housing, sustained by the “lovely support” from comrades.

With assistance from his friend Helen, a GoFundMe campaign has generated an impressive sum exceeding £7,000 from 200 contributors, embarking on funding Mark’s reconstruction of his independent lifestyle.

Amidst the tragedy, Mark lamented to PA Real Life the loss of his cherished possessions: “It’s heartbreaking to lose all my treasures,” yet he maintained a resilient outlook. “But in the grand scheme of things, it’s nothing compared to feeling good, being healthy, having friends, and all the rest of it.”

Embracing gratitude amidst hardship, Mark reflected, “I certainly don’t feel I’m taking anything for granted at the moment. It all feels super special.”

Mark was house-sitting for a friend when he retired to bed feeling “very strange” and “breathless” on February 10.

“In the morning, I found myself feeling very dizzy and disorientated, and I had to go down the stairs on my bum to get to the kitchen,” he recounted.

“I went to get a glass of water from the sink, and next thing I knew, I was flat on the floor.”

Mark had lost consciousness for some time and awoke amidst shattered crockery.

He dragged himself around the house in search of his phone, slipping “in and out of consciousness” and gasping for air against the agony in his lungs.

“I tried shouting out the front door – I couldn’t actually raise my voice; it was like in a nightmare when you can’t speak,” he described.

After calling 999, Mark lay “frozen rigid” in anticipation of the ambulance.

“When they arrived, I was this shivering, gasping heap on the floor – they immediately intervened and tried to stabilise me,” he recalled.

Despite being an avid cyclist who had completed a 1,500km trek from Spain’s north coast to the south coast for charity just the previous year, Mark was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism – a blood clot perilously near his heart.

His sister Ruth, once a nurse, fell “deathly quiet” at the sight of Mark’s ECG, informing him he was “nearly a goner”.

“It was quite humbling to realise how close it had been,” Mark reflected.

Despite being in peak physical condition and initially thinking that a clot was “a couch potato condition” Mark was shocked when doctors explained to him that pulmonary embolisms are actually “quite prevalent” among elite athletes, suggesting his intensive cycling could have been the culprit.

Mark recounted the harrowing experience: “It felt like fingers squeezing my lungs. It was a really painful, uncomfortable situation, but it feels like they’re releasing, day by day.”

Following a stint in the hospital, Mark was released with advice to recuperate at a friend’s place rather than return to his six-metre-wide yurt situated on a farm near Lewes.

For three years, Mark has called his Mongolian yurt home, a lifestyle change sparked five years ago by a desire to escape the relentless cycle of mortgages and bills.

“Before that, I was kind of normal,” he reflected.

He joked about his unconventional choice, saying, “It’s probably my mid-life crisis, rather than buying a fast car.”

However, Mark’s health issues were compounded when, just two weeks after his medical emergency, he received a distressing call on February 26 informing him that his yurt had caught fire.

“I went straight online and found reports locally of this blaze out there,” he said, describing the complete destruction of his abode.

“The gas tanks blew sky-high – apparently, they could hear the bang on the north side of Lewes.”

The fire was inadvertently started by a well-meaning friend who had lit a fire to ward off dampness while Mark was recuperating.

Mark speculated on the cause: “A spark might have pinged out of an open door on the stove.

“It must have smouldered all day in there, and then for whatever reason, it took off in the evening.

“I didn’t feel any anger or blame towards her; it’s just a terrible accident.”

Nevertheless, Mark was “absolutely devastated” by the inferno, having lost “everything”, encompassing his tools, bike paraphernalia, irreplaceable mementos from journeys abroad, “lovely bits of art”, and a cherished ancient teddy bear.

His yurt, an enchanting haven furnished with cosy rugs, solar panels, a heating system, and a “glamping kitchen” fitted with modern conveniences, stood obliterated.

Reflecting on what once was, Mark fondly recalled his abode: “It was quite beautiful out there, like a little oasis,” set in a farm’s meadow corner featuring a copse and badger neighbours.

In the aftermath, he expressed gratitude for his friends’ efforts: “A little army of friends went out on the Saturday after the fire, and they totally cleared the site… I’m hoping the badgers are pleased, they got their land back now.”

Overwhelmed by communal kinship after the blaze, Mark recounted hospital visits, offers of shelter, and kind gestures of nourishment from friends.

“I felt like the Maharaja, lying on my pillows being served for a few days,” he quipped, touched by the outpouring of goodwill.

Mark found solace in the unexpected kindness that emerged: “It’s been very heartwarming, just how nice people are.”

He reflected on the human capacity for goodness, despite prevailing cynicism: “These days, we’re almost told to be suspicious of each other. But when you get into it, people are actually altruistic and very kind.”

Mark, who has been given the green light by landowners to reconstruct his off-grid existence on their plot, remains uncertain about how the surrounding farming community might receive him.

He commented: “I had quite a good connection with all the locals out there, so we’ll see how it goes.

“I probably need to throw them another barbecue or something and sound them all out.”

Supporters can contribute to Mark’s cause via his GoFundMe page at: gofundme.com/f/mark-mansbridge.