Child burned after walking across remains of beach fire

A two-and-a-half- year-old boy suffered serious burns to his feet and ankles when he walked into the remains of a beach bonfire. The hot embers were covered by a thin layer of sand. Picture supplied

A Gisborne grandmother has made a plea to people who light a fire on the beach to make sure it is out properly before they leave.

Her toddler grandson was badly burned when he walked into the unseen remains of a beach bonfire.

The two-and-a-half-year-old was with family members fishing towards the mouth of the Waipaoa River on New Year’s Eve morning when it happened.

“The sand area he walked into looked like normal sand, but there were red hot embers still burning underneath,” the grandmother said.

“My grandson suffered horrific burns to the soles of his feet and ankles.”

The family rushed the boy into the shallows for about 20 minutes to cool the burns down and then took him to the Emergency Department at Gisborne Hospital.

“He was treated there and allowed to go home, and he has since gone home with his family to Auckland,” she said.

“He is recovering well.”

It was a very upsetting incident for the family,  she said.

“We were all distraught about it.

“The people who lit that fire had just covered it up with sand and left.”

The family poured several chilly bin -loads of sea water on to it, to make sure it was out.

When they were doing that, the fire remains were still hissing away.

“So we would make a plea to people lighting beach fires to ensure they are completely out before they leave the beach.

“Also, that the fire remains are visible, so people like my grandson don’t get hurt.”

Fire and Emergency NZ has consistently made the same call.