Child seriously injured at Canterbury camp flown to Middlemore Hospital’s burns unit

A nine-year-old boy seriously injured at a North Canterbury camp has been flown to Middlemore Hospital’s specialised Burns unit.

The Hokitika Primary School student suffered serious burns when a small methylated spirits stove malfunctioned on Tuesday afternoon at the Waipara Adventure Centre.

He was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital, with his father accompanying him, having been present at the camp.

On Friday, the boy was transferred to Middlemore Hospital.

He has undergone two surgeries with more to come and was in a medically induced coma.

Ministry of Education Trauma counsellors visited the school on Thursday.

On a Give a Little page, family friend Rebecca Thompson said “this is a tragic event that has not only affected the young boy’s whanau but the wider community.

“We have set this page up with the permission of the whanau so the community and wider community can show their love and support to the whanau.

“Our wee darling has been flown to Middlemore Hospital in Auckland to the specialised Burns unit.

“The family is overwhelmed by the support they have received and thank you all from the bottom of their hearts.

At 10PM on Saturday night $11,185 had been donated by 135 people on the boy’s Give a Little page.