A 15-year-old was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle on Monday afternoon after being accidentally set alight in Darlington. The teenager suffered burns to his lower body in an incident near the White Horse Pub in Harrowgate Hill.
Details of the incident
Durham Constabulary said the boy was believed to have been using petrol when it was accidentally ignited. He remains in a stable condition in the RVI. The force stressed the incident is being treated as a "tragic accident" and not as a criminal matter.
Second similar incident in months
This follows another incident in which a 12-year-old "set fire to his hands" in Cockerton Park, Darlington. On April 18, the boy was seen trying to start a fire in the park. That prompted Durham Constabulary, Darlington Borough Council, and the fire and rescue service to warn about the dangers of fires.
Risk of fires in dry conditions
After several heatwaves this summer, fires can spread quickly due to dry grass, increasing the risk of accidents.
