A youth club helper needed 16 stitches after standing on a disposable barbecue which had been left on a beach.

Melanie Miller, 44, of Leaveland Close, Stanhope, had to be taken to the William Harvey Hospital following the accident and is having to miss the last week of term at the Beaver Green Community School where she works as a teaching assistant.

Last week we reported how Ellis Hayter, of Willesborough, had suffered horrific burns to his feet after standing on a smouldering barbecue which had been buried on a beach.

Both his and Miss Miller’s accidents both happened at Camber Sands.
Miss Miller said: “The grill part of the barbecue sliced through my foot like a serrated knife.

“The adults in the group stemmed the blood with some kitchen paper, we had to get the kids home and then they took me to hospital. I can’t believe that anyone could be so irresponsible. How stupid to leave something like that in the sand – especially when there are bins there.

“Thankfully it didn’t happen to a child - it might have sliced right through to the bone.”

Mrs Miller was on an outing with the Singleton and Great Chart Youth Club when the injury happened.