Burns of 25% to arms and legs of man from bonfire at Gore Lane, Eastry, near Sandwich
Published: 19:30, 17 June 2017
Updated: 19:42, 17 June 2017
A man has suffered horrific injuries from a bonfire.
The victim, in his 20s, sustained about 25% burns to his arms and legs.
It happened at Gore Lane, Eastry, today (Saturday).
A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The man sustained the injuries after it’s thought he attempted to start a bonfire using flammable liquids.“
The bonfire was out on arrival, but crews put it out fully using a main jet.
Crews had been called out at 1.45pm.
They treated the victim with oxygen therapy, first aid, and cooled his burns using water, before he was handed over to the air ambulance and flown to a local hospital for further treatment.
The KFRS spokesman added: “We are encouraging anyone thinking of having a bonfire to consider a safer, more environmentally friendly way to dispose of waste through the green waste collection or take it to your local recycling centre.
“However, if you do light a bonfire the advice is to take extra care and never use petrol, barbecue lighting fluids or other accelerants on them.
"Also, never leave any fire unattended and if the bonfire gets out of control, never try to tackle it yourself, always call the fire service.”
Crews were at the scene until just after 2.15pm.
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Sam Lennon