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Source: Courtesy of Mark Persson -
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Nearly two years after he was critically injured in the fatal Hamilton coolstore fire, David Beanland is back in the frontline of firefighters at the weekend tackling a major blaze in a city boatyard.
The fire at Tristram Marine in Te Rapa Park industrial area was the biggest in the Hamilton area since the Tamahere lcepack coolstore explosion.
The April 2008 fire claimed the life of Senior Station Officer Derek Lovell and left seven others, including Beanland, severely injured.
He spent six week weeks in hospital with serious burns to his hands and face.
On Sunday Beanland was one of 60 firefighters who fought to save the Tristram Marine building and $8m of stock and equipment.
Beanland previously told the Waikato Times it took some time to come to terms with his injuries.
"I've got a whole new appreciation for people who actually have disabilities that they can't get operated on and get rid of," he says.
"I became very self-conscious about going out in public."
