Child suffers horrific heater burns

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A five-year-old Christchurch boy suffered severe facial burns after a man allegedly held a fan heater to his face.

The man, in his 40s, has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after allegedly holding a fan heater to the side of the boy's face.

The boy suffered third degree burns from his eyebrows to his chin and will require extensive skin grafts.

Police and social agencies have been shocked by the child's injury, which occurred at a house in the Shirley area of the city on Saturday.

The man, who has name suppression, appeared in the Christchurch District Court this week and was remanded in custody without plea until August 6.

Detective Sergeant Darren Folau, of the police child protection unit, described it as a "horrific" case.

But he was amazed by the boy's "remarkable resilience".

Southern regional director Kelly Anderson said Child, Youth and Family have been working closely with police to support the child and family.

"This is a deeply distressing case where a child was seriously injured in a horrendous manner," she said.

"Our main concern is to help this child and protect them from further harm."

While the police investigation continues, CYF refused to comment further.