An ex-soldier who became the second person to undergo a full face transplant in US history has called it 'the best decision I ever made'.
Mitch Hunter, of Indianapolis, underwent the pioneering 14-hour procedure in 2011, a decade after a car he was in crashed into a 10,000 volt electrical pylon.
After pushing a female passenger out of harm's way, the electrical current pumped continuously through his body, mainly through his face, for five minutes.
Mr Hunter, now 42, was forced to spend two months in hospital, underwent 67 facial reconstructive surgeries and had part of his right leg amputated due to his severe burns.
A decade after the accident, Mr Hunter became just the second person in the US to undergo a face transplant, in a bid to stop children screaming at the sight of him in the street.
The father-of-three received his face from a man who had died.
'Having the transplant was the best decision of my life, and it has helped me put the accident behind me and finally move on with my life,' Mr Hunter said.
He told how he made the decision because he didn't want his children to be bullied at school because of his disfigurement.
Mitch Hunter (pictured before the transplant), from Indianapolis in Indiana, had a full face transplant in 2011, a decade after a car he was in crashed into a 10,000 volt electrical pylon. After pushing a female passenger out of the way of the electrical current, it pumped continuously through his body, mainly through his face, for five minutes
Mr Hunter, now 42, in 2011 became just the second person in the US to undergo a face transplant, in a bid to stop children screaming at the sight of him in the street. It took five months for the swelling to subside and the true traits of his facial features to emerge
Mr Hunter said: 'Having the transplant was the best decision of my life, and it has helped me put the accident behind me and finally move on with my life'
Mr Hunter (pictured before the accident) was in a car with his friend and his friend's girlfriend along a North Carolina highway when the friend lost control of the wheel and plowed into a pylon
Recalling his accident, he added: 'I barely remember anything from when the wires touched my face.
'One minute I was helping the injured girl trying to get her away from the pole, the next I was in hospital nearly a month later.
'I knew my injuries were serious when my mum and step mum were in the room consoling one another because they usually hated each other.
'For a few days no one would show me a mirror, until my ex-girlfriend at the time came to visit and brought one with her.
'I can't describe the feeling I had when seeing myself like that, it didn't feel real - I was unrecognisable.'
He added: 'The girl I saved only had minor burns to her foot, but I suffered full thickness burns on every inch of my face along with my hands and right leg.
'The burn on my leg was so severe I was also forced to have a below the knee amputation.
'I couldn't believe how drastically my life had changed in what was a matter of minutes.'
Mr Hunter was with his friend and their girlfriend along a North Carolina highway, when the friend lost control of the wheel and plowed into a pylon.
The girlfriend jumped out the car, was struck by one of the fallen lines, and as Hunter pushed her out of harm's way it made an electrical connection.
Electricity flowed through his arm, which was grounded by touching the car.
In 2011, Mr Hunter had a face transplant after receiving the go-ahead from Boston's Brigham & Women's Hospital. Around 30 doctors spent more than 14 hours reconstructing his face during the risky operation
The procedure involved micro-vascular surgery to connect the two main arteries to the new face, allowing his heart to start supplying it with blood. Mr Hunter's new face was taken entirely from an organ donor, including the skin, soft tissue and cartilage from their nose, beard and eyebrows
Mr Hunter said: 'I made the decision for my kids because I didn't want to be the reason they were bullied or outcast at school. 'Having people scream at the sight of you is upsetting, and I couldn't imagine that happening in the company of my own children. 'Having the transplant was the best decision of my life, and it has helped me put the accident behind me and finally move on with my life'
Mr Hunter woke up 27 days after the accident, surrounded by his family with no memory of the crash.
He needed 20 skin grafts from his leg and back to treat the skin on his face and neck which had 'melted'.
Mr Hunter and his girlfriend carried on with their lives and focused on his recovery following the initial facial surgeries, which included the skin-graft surgeries available at the time.
But once his girlfriend became pregnant, Mr Hunter sought out new innovations so his children wouldn't be afraid of his face.
By 2011, there had only been two successful face transplants in America, and 10 globally. There have now been around 50 performed around the world.
That year, he had the face transplant after receiving the go-ahead from Boston's Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Around 30 doctors spent more than 14 hours reconstructing his face during the risky operation.
He needed micro-vascular surgery to connect the two main arteries to the new face, allowing his heart to start supplying it with blood.
Mr Hunter's new face was taken entirely from an organ donor, including the skin, soft tissue and cartilage from their nose, beard and eyebrows.
It took five months for the swelling to subside and the true traits of his facial features to emerge.
Mr Hunter said he underwent the transplant because he 'didn't want his children to be embarrassed by him in the future'.
He is now unrecognisable with a full beard and a full sensation in his face.
Mr Hunter said: 'Strangely enough I can grow my beard which once belonged to the donor which is really weird!
'I made the decision for my kids because I didn't want to be the reason they were bullied or outcast at school.
'Having people scream at the sight of you is upsetting, and I couldn't imagine that happening in the company of my own children.
'Having the transplant was the best decision of my life, and it has helped me put the accident behind me and finally move on with my life.'
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