Student splashed with meths has surgery for severe burns

One of the burn victims is loaded into am ambulance. Photo / NZH

A high school student is undergoing surgery after suffering severe burns from a technology class assignment gone wrong this morning.

The year 10 student from Waiuku College, southwest of Auckland, was airlifted to Middlemore Hospital in south Auckland about 9.45am after being splashed with burning methylated spirits.

Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Scott Osmond said the student appeared to have 50-60 per cent burns.

"Anything over 20 per cent is horrendous in the case of burns," he said.

Waiuku College deputy principal Mark Nickless said the student was having surgery this afternoon.

Mr Nickless said the student was one of a group of four fuelling a power boat they made in their technology class when the spillage happened.

"We're talking to as many people as we can to find out exactly what happened, and we've called in occupational safety and health people," he told NZPA.

"It's certainly not what normally happens in a technology class."

Two other students suffered minor injuries, and one was suffering from shock.

- NZPA