‘I grabbed him and ran’: Mum leaps into action

A mum has been praised for her quick actions getting her toddler into a shower after he was doused in scalding-hot coffee on Christmas day.

The woman, who does not want to be identified, kept her 17-month-old boy in the shower for 20 minutes until paramedics arrived at their home at Alfredton, north of Masterton, to fly him to hospital.

“I’m a nurse so I knew exactly what to do and I knew it was extremely serious because it was boiling hot water, no milk. He just needed to go under water instantly. That’s what I did, I just grabbed him and ran.”

The mum had been making cups of tea and coffee when she was distracted by another child who was trying to get into a Christmas present.

It took only a moment for her son to appear while her back was turned.

“He just came from nowhere. He just reached up and grabbed.”

The toddler suffered burns to his face, head and chest, but he is expected to make a full recovery with no scarring.

The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was sent to the scene about 10.30am on Christmas day, and flew the child to hospital.

He suffered second-degree burns, but a rescue helicopter spokesperson said the mum’s quick thinking reduced the seriousness of the burns.

“It was probably more traumatising for me,” the mum said. “I know what burns can do to little kids.”

The mum offered her thanks to the team who came to her child’s rescue.

“They were very caring.”