Boy burned as makeshift blowtorch explodes

The 13-year-old boy from Leeds, was engulfed in flames as he played with a friend on waste ground in Meanwood Road, Meanwood, on Sunday evening.

Inquiries so far suggest that the incident that left the teenager with such serious injuries was a tragic accident.

The explosion, which left the youngster with serious burn injuries, is thought to have been caused when a burning jet from an aerosol was directed on to another can containing flammable liquid and it was probably this which exploded.

It is understood two police officers, on patrol in the area, were passing at the time of the incident and seeing what happened rushed to the teenage boy's aid.

The officers were able to grab him and then roll him on the ground to extinguish the flames.

They managed to put out the teenager's burning clothing before calling an ambulance.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said last night:

"At 9.20pm on Sunday officers on patrol in Meanwood Road noticed two youths on nearby waste ground and then saw an explosion which resulted in one youth being engulfed in flames."

The youngster was taken to Leeds General Infirmary then transferred to the Manchester Royal Infirmary's specialist children's burns unit where he remained in a critical condition yesterday.

Members of the boy's family were understood to be at his bedside in Manchester yesterday.

The boy's friend, also 13, and the two police officers who went to the teenager's aid were not injured in the blaze.

The police spokesman added last night: "Inquiries so far indicate this was a tragic accident."