Girl, 6, 'on fire in seconds' after being hit in neck by firework

Girl, 6, 'on fire in seconds' after being hit in neck by firework WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE: Fireworks can cause burns and injuries in an instant A six year old girl was left scarred for life after being hit with a firework at home for Bonfire Night. Her family, who "took every precaution", is now warning people of the dangers of setting off fireworks at home The girl was watching a family firework display in her back garden at the end of October last year when the incident happened. Her mum, who asked not to be named, said the family had bought low-noise fireworks to reduce distress for their pets and had followed all the safety guidance on the packaging. When one firework was lit, it failed to launch up and instead shot sideways across the garden. The family were horrified after it hit a swing set and flew back towards the family, striking the little girl, who was "on fire in seconds". The family panicked, ripping off the girl’s dress and putting her in the shower to start cooling the burns. They then wrapped the injured area in cling film and rushed her to A&E. The injuries were so serious that the girl later needed surgery for a skin graft in November. Her mum said she then had to go through dressing changes every two days, describing the treatment as "incredibly difficult" for a six year old. The mum says the impact has not just been physical. She said: "Our daughter will unfortunately carry the physical and emotional effects of that night with her for the rest of her life. "As a family, we will also carry what happened with us forever. We did what we believed we were supposed to do, and yet a faulty firework still ended up hitting a six-year-old child. "We want people to understand that fireworks can cause devastating burns and life-changing injuries in seconds. Even when people take precautions and follow the instructions, something can still go wrong." The warning comes as the Children’s Burns Trust said firework injuries to children have surged by 63% in the last year. Ken Dunn, a retired plastic surgeon and vice chair of the charity, said the rise was a "stark reminder that fireworks are not harmless toys". He said: "A single spark can cause life‑changing burns, scarring and long‑term rehabilitation." He added that families should consider attending an organised public display, keep children away from fireworks, and act quickly if a burn occurs. Becky Guy, senior policy manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), also encouraged families to attend public displays wherever possible. She said those using fireworks at home should buy from reputable retailers, follow instructions carefully and ensure children are supervised and kept well away from fireworks.