Burns victim says bar staff just laughed

The firework scarred Bobby Kells' back. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Bobby Kells was out celebrating the end of exams when he felt a burning pain on his back.

The 19-year-old engineering student was in the packed Fusion backpackers bar in downtown Auckland, but knew straight away it was a firecracker.

"My initial reaction was that it was a firework because it was Guy Fawkes," he said.

"So I just started pulling my shirt to get it to drop down ... Apparently my singlet was on fire."

But it was too late. He had second- and third-degree burns across his back.

Mr Kells looked around, but saw no sign of whoever was responsible.

Ripping his flaming singlet off from beneath his shirt, he was immediately accosted by security.

"They basically said, 'What the hell are you doing without a shirt?"' Mr Kells said. "I said my back's been burnt and they just laughed and pretty much told me to bugger off."

So he and a mate iced his back with popsicles. His mother, Marney, took him to the doctor on Monday.

"The doctor was pretty shocked and amazed at the story," he said.

Mr Kells, a competitive rower in Auckland Rowing's regional performance crew, has missed six important training sessions in the build-up to the national championships at Lake Karapiro in February.

Hoping to view security footage, he has left several messages for management at Fusion but has not heard back.

Out of frustration, he filed a statement on Thursday with police, who said they would investigate.

Fusion staff did not return the Weekend Herald's calls yesterday.