Boy fights for life after fire fall

Feb 13 2006 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

A BOY of six was fighting for his life today after being badly burned in an horrific accident at his home.

Anton Turner was turned into a ball of flame when he tripped and fell on to a gas fire while playing at his home in Willows Road, The Chuckery, Walsall.

His mother Michelle, aged 32, managed to beat out the flames with her bare hands, but Anton suffered 30 per cent burns to his chest, back, arms and legs.

The youngster was rushed by ambulance to Walsall Manor Hospital after the accident on Saturday afternoon, then transferred to a specialist burns unit at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool.

Leading Firefighter Ella Leslie, of Walsall fire station, said that Anton's clothes had caught fire when he fell on to the gas appliance.

"There was no guard around the fire and it appears the little boy was aflame when the mother found him. She grabbed a quilt and managed to beat out the flames. but the boy suffered very serious injuries.

"We were told the little lad had 30 per cent burns and his mother had burns to her hands."

Ms Leslie added: "This sort of domestic accident just goes to show how important it is to have a guard around a fire when there are children around," she said.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Steve Parry said that paramedics were called to the scene at about 1.30pm on Saturday.

"Our crews treated the youngster at the house before taking the boy by ambulance to Walsall Manor Hospital. He was in a serious condition with extensive burns."

* Have your say on this story at www.icbirmingham.co.uk/mail/news/yoursay