A toddler who was hit by a firework while in his pram was saved by a cup of cold tea.
Alfie Watkinson, two, was sitting with his sisters 20 feet from the fountain-style firework when part of it flew out of the ground during a family bonfire at their home in Castle Street, Bolton.
It landed in his pram, injuring his left eye and setting fire to his coat and the pram. Alfie’s horrified mum Jenny Walters threw a cold cup of cold tea over the firework to put it out.
Jenny, 32, said: “It really scared me. There was blood in his pupil and all around his eye. There should be a ban on fireworks because nobody should have to go through what I have been through with Alfie.
“He was very lucky to only come away with the injuries he had. We’ll never be having a firework display here again.”
Praise as Bonfire Night toll falls
Ambulance, police and fire crews were called and Alfie was rushed to Royal Bolton Hospital.
He was kept in overnight but is not thought he has suffered permanent damage to his eye. He will go back to hospital to see a specialist next week.
Paramedics told police the firework ‘went wild’ after being lit by Alfie’s cousin Jordan Walters.
Jordan, 16, said: “When I saw the firework going towards the pram I jumped in the way and part of it hit me in the back of the head.
“The firework was still burning when it was in the pram. I ripped the straps off the pram and just pulled Alfie out. He was screaming for ages afterwards.”
Sister Ellie said: “We were really worried about him when he was in hospital. It’s really good now he’s home.”
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I question the responsibility of allowing a 16 year old to light the firework in the first place, twenty feet away from danger is not where I would leave a baby in a pram. calling this a "private display" is giving some embellishment to what seems to be an irresponsible get together.
Thank goodness he is not to badly hurt.
it could have been on of two problems in this case;it could well have been a faulty firework that slipped thru the net onto sale. Most reputable companies BS7114:part2:1988 compliant firework products in 99% of cases generally do not cause trouble, also rockets do state on their labels and packets that they should be angled away from spectators/trees/buildings and other obstructions before lighting-they don't normally fly toward people unless this recommendation is ignored.
this could have been so much nastier and hope the child recovers quickly.
Although i'm confused as to why the mother took such a young child to a small private display and is saying fireworks should be banned?
Glad Alfie is okay, but mum, if you think fireworks should be banned,why put Alfie in danger of them?
Glad he's okay but a 16 year was left to light the firework!!! This is irresponsible and hope a lesson learnt.
She now wants a ban on fireworks but was willing to buy them. What a hypocrite.
Those suggesting 16 is too young for lighting a firework - why? You can pay taxes, father a child, join the military (with parental consent I believe), get a motorcycle licence at 16, surely lighting a firework is no more a risk or responsibility? I'd rather have a sensible 16 year old - who jumped in the way of the errant firework when he realised what was happening - than a drunk 30+ year old messing around with fireworks (which I guess happens a lot at these party-like gatherings). It's like anything else, there is always a risk, the 0.1% chance of something bad happening, which people should attempt to mitigate - in this case it does sound a little too close to the fireworks, perhaps this was a physical limitation of the garden etc. Usually the safest / best run events are those big community ones with professional displays you get at schools, round table and so on, but accidents still happen at those. It's just good that the damage to the child is seemingly minor and they are all ok.
Matt Hulme, Salford(08/11/2010 at 12:20)
But it wasn't a rocket it was a fountain
Doesn't say what firework it was you argumentative troll was so how do you know cleverclogs?
A horrible situation and glad Alfie is alright but has anybody thought of the consequences of throwing a cup of tea over a child, good job it was a cold one.
Matt Hulme and El Mustard I know more about fireworks than you two put together so don't come clever with me and you are an equal thicko Incompetant Balloonist because I know a good deal more about fireworks than you as well ALL OF YOU GO TAKE A JUMP UNDER A BUS!
Poor Alfie, why would his family even think that this would be an enjoyable activity for him in the first place?? Most young children I know are not too keen on loud bangs and flashes and mine refuse to even stand at the window. I don't understand some parents....older kids might enjoy it, but a toddler??
Matt Hulme, Salford (08/11/2010 at 15:27)
"I know more about fireworks than you two put together"
How much is there to know
I'm NOT explaining myself to your's/el mustard's and incompetant balloonists argumentative stance and questions to give you an answer because you are picky!
Fireworks in general do NOT cause problems when used properly according to their instructions;occasionally poor ones slip through the net, fall short of BS7114 compliance and get sold through the retail trade-that's a consequence of chinese manufacture and quality standards occasionally slipping. When fireworks were made in the UK the quality was a heck of a lot better if more expensive;only one firm does it now and that's Kimbolton Fireworks of Cambridgeshire, their stuff is 100% good with barely any malfunction/failure rate(I've had them before), although you do pay handsomely for it though-it's the price of quality.
el_mustard, Manchester South (08/11/2010 at 16:06)
Can anyone imagine Anthony in charge of a firework?
It involves reading instructions, taking a step back while staying cool, calm and collected
Yeah I know more than you div!
A two-years old is likely to be scared by fireworks rather than enjoy them. Why did the Mother buy the fireworks, allow a 16-years old to light them and is now calling for a ban?
yes I had a good time friday and saturday with two safe well organised displays I did for friends:friday's display I did using a epic guidos party pack with a good selection of garden and display fireworks,three nice wheels and a selection of decent rockets,everyone was at 25m away behind a rope and I lit the fireworks with portfires at arms length wearing gloves and safety glasses and hardhat,and for the saturday I did another display at a friends farm using a epic p d and q display kit,a epic professional rocket box,three goldenlion ring of fire wheels,two blackcat solar wind wheels,two brothers fiery eye wheels,two standard conic fountains,two epic super conic fountains,three epic skythriller rockets,a epic mega 21 rocket pack,a epic smiley face rocket,a epic screaming spider cake and 2 epic thunderous finale cakes,everyone 25m away and myself lit the fireworks with portfires wearing gloves,safety glasses and hardhat. Everyone enjoyed themselves and nobody got hurt. That sort of sensible responsible use doesnt cause problems and shouldnt be frowned on,because a few prats misuse fireworks.
This is why there is organised events. Poor kid.
Matt Hulme, Salford
That ppe is adequate;I don't the hiviz or safety shoes!
"About 20 people, including several children, were hurt when a firework went out of control at an evening display in Bedfordshire.
The firework misfired and hit people in the 100-strong crowd at an organised display at the scout hut in Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard, on Monday.
Those hurt suffered burns and cuts and ranged from a child aged six to a woman, 43, with serious leg injuries."
From the BBC
HUM DINGER, STOCKPORT
Don't you ever shut up and refrain from picking on people as you do?
Nice to hear that you have "Friends" though to share your firework spectacular, even if they are the sort that come out from the skirting boards after midnight wearing pointy hats and boots and dancing around toadstools! Did you ever find the recipe for Parkin Anthony?
Stupid go hum you dingerface!
HUM DINGER, STOCKPORT (08/11/2010 at 23:09)
Nice to hear that you have "Friends" though to share your firework spectacular, even if they are the sort that come out from the skirting boards after midnight wearing pointy hats and boots and dancing around toadstools! Did you ever find the recipe for Parkin Anthony?
Don't make fun of my friends you myopicouf!
Matt Hulme, Salford (09/11/2010 at 10:48)
"dingerface, myopicouf"
What a wonderful repertoire of comedy insults you have. What on earth is a "myopicouf" by the way
I like insulting you humdinger and the other gets on here!
citycentre, manchester (09/11/2010 at 10:30)
So lets have even more nanny state over regulation to protect people from every possible danger?
No. We have too much nannystate over-regulation already. Occasional serious mishaps with faulty fireworks should NOT be a call for an outright ban. The UK companies need to tighten up firework product quality of the factories in China that produce for them and should demand from them better safer good quality firework products for sale to consumers here.
HUM DINGER, STOCKPORT
Why do you make fun of me? Because you enjoy picking on me? ANSWER.
Matt Hulme, Salford
And you are a bore!