The incident not only cost him his sister, but it left him with 75% of burn injuries. He lost all his fingers and is partially disabled and deformed in other parts of his body.
But the 45-year-old is not allowing his disability to hold him back, he is raising funds to climb the highest mountain on earth Mount Everest.
Baartman is among 12 international climbers who are planning to use their adventure in May to raise money to help children suffering from burn wounds
By climbing Everest he hopes to inspire other burn victims to carry on living despite the life-limiting challenges that burns present.