A Bradford man has spoken of his two-year compensation nightmare after suffering horrific burns from a “toxic sofa”.

Stefan Wasylkiw, 57, of Dorset Close, Little Horton, has been told it could take ten years for his arm to recover from suspected chemical burns he suffered from a leather sofa in 2009.

For the first nine months Mr Wasylkiw said he was perfectly happy with two sofas he bought from Brigella Mills Carpets and Beds, in Little Horton, Bradford.

But on the morning of Christmas Eve 2009, he began to suffer severe pains on his face and arm.

He said: “I had just had breakfast and I was sat on the sofa watching the news and the next thing I was jumping about, screaming and crying.

“I didn’t know what was happening and then I saw a purple film coming down over my left eye.

“I thought ‘what’s going on’, so I looked into the mirror and all my face was in a right mess.”

Mr Wasylkiw was taken to a burns specialist at his doctors by a neighbour, who told him she had never seen burns like it in her 12 years as a doctor.

He said: “I couldn’t understand how I could get burns watching the news, and she asked do I have a leather settee?”

Mr Wasylkiw said the doctor explained a number of settees made in China contained sachets of dimethyl fumarate, used to kill bugs during transportation, which if they burst can cause chemical burns.

He said: “The doctor at the medical centre sent me to St Luke’s Hospital and I saw a doctor there and he said exactly the same as her – chemical burns.

“But at the time I still couldn’t understand it.”

Mr Wasylkiw has since gone for several check-ups and was told on Monday his arm could take another ten years to completely heal.

He said: “At the time it felt horrendous. I don’t want anybody else sitting on these sofas.

“I feel frustrated about the whole thing.

“It’s unbelievable they do actually get these sachets in these sofas.” Now, solicitors at Irwin Mitchell are pursuing a compensation claim for him — but it could take years before there is a resolution.

Solicitors at the firm were unable to confirm the details of the case to the Telegraph & Argus, but have told Mr Wasylkiw they are investigating where the sofas were manufactured, how they were imported into the UK and whether he could join a Group Litigation.

Last year, a number of High Street chains agreed to pay up to £20m to 2,000 people who received chemical burns from sofas in similar circumstances. The victims were expected to get £1,200 to £9,000 each plus other expenses.

The solicitors are also involved in discussions with Brigella Mills Carpets and Beds, in Little Horton Lane, Bradford, over refunding the £540 Mr Wasylkiw paid for the sofas.

A Brigella Mills spokesman said Mr Wasylkiw had been offered a credit note for the value of the sofas, or would be offered the money back if his claim against the manufacturer was successful or the sofa was proven to be the cause of the burns.