A 14-year-old Auckland schoolboy last night described the moment he was set on fire by two friends as they tried to refuel their toy boats with methylated spirits.
Jamie Knox received serious burns to his face, chest, back and limbs in the accident at Waiuku College, and is facing a painful, month-long recovery in Middlemore Hospital.
The Year 10 student was kept in intensive care for two nights as his blood pressure was so low.
He had been watching friends race their meth-powered boats during first period on Tuesday when one poured the accelerant onto a lit fuse.
Jamie told how the bottle exploded and the meths spread rapidly over his body.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he told the Herald on Sunday: "I remember flames went up where the methylated spirits was put in, then it went back into the bottle and the only way it came out was towards me.
"I rolled over onto the ground. My clothing didn't get burnt, it was just all over my body. It's really sore."
Jamie's aunt Dawn Knox said his mother Gaylene Reid, 39, had died six months ago.
She said: "The sad thing is when Jamie was in intensive care on Tuesday, his bed was straight across from where his mum was when she was sick."
She said the family had been told that one of the other boys involved in the incident had been receiving counselling.
Jamie's father Bernard said he did not blame the other boys at all.
He said: "I think they might be a bit traumatised. I mean Jamie is still coming to grips with himself about what has happened."
He said Jamie had several second and third degree burns, as well as more "deep-seated" on his right arm.
"They took his dressings off yesterday and had a look, it was an ugly sight, poor kid.
"We are looking at ... 30 odd days (in hospital) - one day for every one per cent of burn they say.
"I think he has a fair idea (what happened) but you know he is still in shock."
Eye-witnesses said teachers sprayed Jamie with a hose and placed him in a shower while emergency services arrived.
He was then airlifted to hospital by Auckland's Westpac Rescue Helicopter where he underwent emergency surgery.
Waiuku College and the Department of Labour are investigating the incident, which also saw the two other boys suffer minor burns.
Teen boy burnt in toy boat accident
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