Burned teen faces long recovery

Tenmark Nielsen. Photo / Supplied

A 16-year-old who set himself on fire is expected to have a long stay in hospital, as his family struggle to understand his motive for harming himself.

Tenmark Nielsen remained in a critical but stable condition yesterday in Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu, where he was admitted on Friday with life-threatening burns to 50 per cent of his body.

Counties Manukau District Health Board spokeswoman Lauren Young said he was not yet well enough to be transferred to the National Burns Unit.

He faced a long period in hospital and several operations, she said.

Tenmark's family found him on fire in the back garden of their Tauranga home at 2am on Friday.

The Tauranga Boys College student is believed to have doused himself in petrol from a lawnmower before setting himself on fire.

His parents put out the flames by stamping on his body and pouring buckets of water over him.

His mother, Lelefu, remained at his hospital bedside yesterday, and family at his home in Greerton told the Herald they "still can't understand" what provoked the incident.

Tenmark came from a loving family, with a strong faith, they told the Herald on Sunday. He studied quietly and diligently, represented his school at rugby, and played bass for the Tauranga Samoan Assembly of God band.

Lelefu and her husband, Kaisa Nielsen, are pastors at the church, which all of their 10 children attend.

Tauranga Boys deputy principal Ian Stuart said there had been "nothing at all" to suggest Tenmark was troubled.

The Year 12 student had passed NCEA Level 1 with excellence and was on track to pass Level 2 this year.

"He's a good young man, very polite and respectful. He's very well liked among his peers and worked hard in his classes, so it's kind of surprising," said Mr Stuart.

Tenmark's family believed he might have been upset by a phone call or text message he had received earlier in the evening.

They had checked his mobile phone but it was locked by a pin code.

Mr Stuart added that the school was working with the community and a church to offer help to Tenmark and his family.

The student's "shocked" friends had been referred to school counsellors.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said police were waiting for the teen to recover before continuing their investigation.