Renowned Winnipeg adventurer and author Don Starkell is recovering in hospital after a blaze at his home almost claimed his life in March.
He was taken to hospital with serious burns to his legs and suffering from smoke inhalation but over the course of the past few weeks his health has improved.
"I got away with things in my life that not one person in a thousand would survive. And I can't explain it. And all I can say (I've) got something going for me," says Starkell.
He is known for his Paddle to the Arctic and Paddle to the Amazon books.
During a paddling expedition to the arctic, Starkell lost some fingers to frostbite and would have died if rescuers had not saved him. In Central America, he bluffed his way out of a dangerous situation where thieves had a gun to his head.
The recent fire at his East Kildonan home in March has Starkell feeling fortunate to be alive once again.
"I shouldn't be here—I lucked out again," says Starkell.
He heats his home with a wood stove. "That particular night, I might have left the door open a little tiny bit," says Starkell regarding the evening the blaze broke out.
After running from the home when he awoke to flames, Starkell attempted to go back in to put out the fire but a neighbour stopped him. Starkell was later taken to hospital.
Once out of hospital, Starkell plans to return to his passion for paddling on the water.
He says he's only about 300 miles short of paddling 75,000 miles during his life, an important milestone for him because it's three times the distance of the circumference of the earth.
Starkell plans to stay with friends once out of hospital until his home is repaired. He also plans to remove the wood stove at his home and replace it with a natural gas furnace.
- with a report from CTV's Kelly Dehn
