Former Eastbourne Eagles boss Trevor Geer has revealed he feared for his life after catching fire at Arlington Stadium.

The 63-year-old from Polegate suffered serious burns to his chest and his hands while tending a bonfire being used to incinerate rubbish.

Geer was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and then to the Queen Victoria Hospital burns unit in East Grinstead for specialist care. He is now back at home but undergoing regular treatment and will be off work for two months.

Geer, who initially kept the seriousness of the incident under wraps, has now posted on Facebook of “one hell of a traumatic experience” and admitted he “really thought it was the end.”

He told The Argus: “My chest was alight. The flames were near my neck and face and there was a worry I might have breathed in fumes. All I remember is pain. I feel I’m lucky to still be here.”

Geer was able to douse the burns with a hose and make an emergency call to his son Chris, a mechanic. Then he staggered 400 yards to open the stadium gates and let his helpers in.

He said: “Chris was incredible and turned up with lots of his workshop towels for cooling the burns and (Trevor’s wife) Diane had rolls of Clingfilm to wrap around me. All the right things to do according to the many doctors and paramedics who turned up.”

Geer revealed he still suffers flashbacks to the incident, which happened last week on the eve of his birthday.

He said: “I have nothing but praise for the paramedics, ambulance crews and staff at the Brighton A and E and the treatment and care I received at East Grinstead. They were all awesome. We are so lucky with our NHS.

“It’s also fantastic to see the messages I’ve had and the friends I’ve got. That has given me a real lift.”

The former rider admitted the narrow escape topped anything he suffered in his racing days and said: “The worst I had back then was when my toe was chopped off in a crash.”

Geer’s mishap continues a desperately unlucky year for Eagles, who have been bedevilled by injuries. And not only to team members.

Former skipper Marc Owen suffered a triple break of the femur at Arlington last week while enjoying a light-hearted ride on a bike trackside announcer Steve Crow uses to get around the stadium. Owen was only at the meeting as a spectator.

Meanwhile reserve Charley Powell has been ruled out for up to a month by a broken collarbone suffered in Monday’s 51-38 defeat at Cradley. The injury means Luke Harris will partner debutant Tom Brennan at reserve at home to Birmingham tomorrow (7.30pm).

Eagles are hopeful Jake Knight, who suffered an ankle injury in the same meeting, will be fit to face the Brummies.

The Argus:

Brennan, pictured above, comes into the side for the first time as an unattached guest - on his 15th birthday. Eagles want to use him sparingly for the rest of the season but are convinced he is good enough for National League action.

His first test will be the toughest in the league. Eastbourne host the leaders and champions - as well as the best reserve pairing in the league in Jack Smith and Jack Parkinson-Blackburn.

Ellis Perks is needed by his Premier League track Plymouth at Berwick so Ben Hopwood returns as guest while Eaggles run rider-replacement for Gary Cottham, who has a broken collarbone.

Eagles: Ellis, Cottham r/r, Wood, Hopwood, Knight, Harris, Brennan.

Birmingham: Halsey, Bacon, Hume, Richings, Perry, Smith, Parkinson-Blackburn.