A six-year-old girl has been left with permanent scarring after a firework struck her in the neck during a family display in her back garden. The incident happened at the end of October last year when a firework failed to launch upwards and instead shot sideways across the garden.
The girl's mother, who asked not to be named, said the family had bought low-noise fireworks to reduce distress for their pets and had followed all the safety guidance on the packaging. When one firework was lit, it hit a swing set and flew back towards the family, striking the little girl, who was "on fire in seconds".
Emergency Response and Treatment
The family panicked, ripping off the girl's dress and putting her in the shower to start cooling the burns. They then wrapped the injured area in cling film and rushed her to A&E. The injuries were so serious that the girl later needed surgery for a skin graft in November.
Her mother said she then had to go through dressing changes every two days, describing the treatment as "incredibly difficult" for a six year old. The mum says the impact has not just been physical.
She said: "Our daughter will unfortunately carry the physical and emotional effects of that night with her for the rest of her life. As a family, we will also carry what happened with us forever. We did what we believed we were supposed to do, and yet a faulty firework still ended up hitting a six-year-old child."
Warnings from Safety Charities
The warning comes as the Children's Burns Trust said firework injuries to children have surged by 63% in the last year. Ken Dunn, a retired plastic surgeon and vice chair of the charity, said the rise was a "stark reminder that fireworks are not harmless toys".
He said: "A single spark can cause life-changing burns, scarring and long-term rehabilitation." He added that families should consider attending an organised public display, keep children away from fireworks, and act quickly if a burn occurs.
Becky Guy, senior policy manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), also encouraged families to attend public displays wherever possible. She said those using fireworks at home should buy from reputable retailers, follow instructions carefully and ensure children are supervised and kept well away from fireworks.
