Man hit by skyrocket, child burnt by fireworks
A child suffered severe burns and a man’s eye was damaged in two serious fireworks mishaps in the South Island.
On Friday, six people, including 4-year-old including Mason Timaloa, were hospitalised after fireworks ‘‘exploded’’ into a large crowd during a display organised by City Church Christchurch in Manchester St, Christchurch.
Mason was sitting behind a barrier with a friend when he was hit by one of the fireworks.
His father, Leon Timaloa, said the firework burnt a ‘‘great big gaping’’ hole through three layers of clothes.
‘‘All of a sudden we saw [fireworks] shooting everywhere. He was screaming.
‘‘I saw that he had embers on his top . . . I picked him up and put him over my shoulder and ran to the first aid station,’’ he said.
Mason suffered burns to his chest, stomach and arm.
Paramedics wrapped him in clingfilm before he was taken to Christchurch Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the burnt skin from his body before being discharged yesterday.
Five other people who attended the event were taken to hospital with minor or moderate injuries.
Timaloa said he thought the fireworks event had been ‘‘well organised’’ and he had ‘‘no ill-will against the organisers’’.
Amy Swain was at the event with her husband and two young children.
She believed that it was ‘‘just luck’’ they were not hit by any fireworks.
Her family was sitting a few rows back from the barrier and she had a ‘‘weird feeling’’ about the set up.
‘‘It looked really unsafe.
‘‘It looked like they [the fireworks] were on gravel. I think one stayed up but the others fell over and started shooting at us,’’ Swain said.
She shielded her 3-year-old daughter, while her husband – whose arm was singed by one of the stray fireworks – protected their other daughter.
City Church Christchurch posted a short statement on social media after the event.
‘‘Something went wrong with the fireworks.
‘‘In the interest of public safety the event was immediately stopped and we are investigating what went wrong.
‘‘We apologise to everyone, especially those who were hurt,’’ the statement said.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man was taken to Southland Hospital with serious injuries after being hit in the eye by a skyrocket near Gore.
St John Christchurch ambulance control duty centre manager Bruce Chubb said emergency services were called about 4am yesterday.
Fire crews in the South Island had received 27 fireworks-related callouts by last night, however, none of the incidents were considered major, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said.