Al-Harbi suffered severe burns to his face and body following a fire at a furnished apartment in Hail that left him injured and disfigured. The fire happened seven years ago, and Al-Harbi, who was asleep at that moment, could not escape the horrific blaze.

The heater was on next to his bed, and a short circuit triggered a fire in the heater. The proximity of the heater and the bed was the reason for the quickness to the bed catching fire. Most parts of his body were burned and the fire disfigured his face. He has been in hospital since the accident — two years in Riyadh and five in Hail.

Despite the tragedy, Al-Harbi is optimistic and hopes that all the treatment would in the end make him presentable. In an interview with Al-Jazirah daily, the head of Al-Sumaira General Hospital, Falah Al-Badrani, said Al-Harbi is receiving all the necessary treatment at the hospital, especially that 70 percent of his body had been burned.

Al-Badrani, while stressing on Al-Harbi’s current frame of mind, said, “His family used to visit him twice a week right after the accident. They also assisted in his rehab, by taking him on walks outside the hospital. Lately they have stopped visiting him. This has impacted him and he is facing a bad psychological situation. We are very sympathetic to him and his condition.”

Al-Badrani added, “He listens very well and he talks to us, but the problem is he cannot see."

Before the Prince Naif’s order, the hospital had appealed to authorities to send Al-Harbi for treatment abroad in any specialized hospital that can handle his condition, especially in skin and hair implant.

Al-Badrani thanked Prince Naif for his initiative and consideration.