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Local man loses home to fire after surviving car fire months ago

A McIntosh County man who survived two fires will have surgery Wednesday.

Thirty-five percent of George Ponsell’s body was burned in a car fire back in December in Glynn County.

Then a recent fire destroyed everything he had.

“It’s got to be one in a million, it’s just crazy,” wife, Lisa Ponsell said.

In December, he was involved in a crash and his car caught fire.

“When he was trying to get out the vehicle he fell into the gas and people who were passing by had to put him out because he caught fire,” daughter, Alicia Edenfield said.

PHOTOS: Local man loses home to fire after surviving car fire months ago

About 35 percent of his body was burned.

Edenfield said he spent more than a month in a burn center recovering.

He was just recently allowed back home, but now his house is destroyed.

“The fire from his accident was enough to not have to deal with not having anything now,” Edenfield said.

Most of the family was in the living room when the fire started spreading throughout the home.

They believe it started in the garage which was just feet away from them.

“We didn’t have shoes on or anything -- only thing we went to bed with is what we walked out in,” Posnell said.

Everything, including their vehicles, was destroyed.

The American Red Cross put the family up in a motel for the week.

The family said this has made them appreciate each other more.

“You never know, one day it could be it could be the last day you hear from him. Especially for this to be twice in a row, it’s hard to deal with,” Edenfield said.

Edenfield said her dad is now back in the hospital with an infection he got while trying to escape the house fire. He is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.

The family set up a GoFundMe account.