Teen is burned in bonfire accident

Oct 29 2007 By Tony Deeley, Birmingham Mail

A MIDLAND teenager suffered horrific burns in an accident involving a bonfire.

The youngster, said to be in his mid-teens, was burned on his neck and face and was taken to hospital where an emergency team had been placed on stand-by to receive him.

The accident happened while the youth was attending a bonfire in Finchfield Road, Wolverhampton, at about 4.30 pm yesterday.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance said today: "On arrival at the scene, crews saw a boy believed to be in his mid-teens who had suffered serious burns in an accident involving a bonfire.

"The boy was treated at the scene for serious burns to his neck and face. He was transferred to New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, for further assessment and treatment."

A spokesman for Birmingham-based safety organisation RoSPA today warned of the dangers of lighting bonfires.

She said: "At this time of year, people are going to start thinking about having bonfires and it's important that they remember that fire can be extremely dangerous.

"This tragic incident emphasises the dangers that can happen."