Urgent warning issued to parents after Victorian boy suffers horrific third-degree burns from common clothing item
A 12-year-old boy has suffered horrific third-degree burns to his body after his polyester jumper caught fire.
A 12-year-old boy has suffered horrific third-degree burns to his body after his polyester jumper caught fire.
Victorian boy Levi Presland was playing in the backyard of his home when a spark from the cigarette lighter he was playing with landed on his jumper.
His mum, Amie Presland, explained her son was just flicking the lighter when his jumper, which was made from highly flammable material, just lit up.
His quick-thinking 14-year-old sister Megan sprung into action and dowsed her brother with the garden hose, saving his life.
I kind of just went into action mode, Megan told 7News.
I looked up and saw him engulfed in flames, trying to pull his jumper off.
Emergency services, including on and off duty paramedics, arrived at the home within minutes.
Levi was airlifted 2 hours away to the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne where he was immediately rushed to surgery.
Levi Presland, 12, suffered third-degree burns to his torso and underarms and minor burns to his face and hands after his polyester jumper caught on fire
His quick-thinking 14-year-old sister Megan (pictured) sprung into action and dowsed her brother with the garden hose, saving his life
The young boy suffered full thickness burns, known as third-degree burns, to his torso and underarms and minor burns to his face and hand which he obtained while pulling his jumper off.
Levi has since undergone eight surgeries including skin grafts which took skin from his thighs to treat the burns on his chest.
Despite his long-road to recovery the young boy said he had been feeling really good.
Friends of Ms Presland and her husband Mark, started a GoFundMe to help cover costs of Levis medical bills and rehabilitation.
His parents, Mark & Amie, are taking turns to stay in hospital with Levi - impacting their ability to work and putting strain on their finances, the fund reads.
Fund organiser and friend Stephen Ritchie explained the pair were finding it particularly challenging after having to close their small business due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Its particularly tough after riding the challenges of small business ownership throughout COVID in Melbourne, he wrote.
They closed their business doors at Christmas 2023 and moved back to the country to be near family support.
Amies friends have initiated this fundraiser to ease the strain. We recognise that it is a challenging time for many at the moment, and our hope that is many small amounts can help to ease the ongoing strain on Levi and his family.
Mr and Mrs Presland want Levis story to help other parents understand and spot the dangers of synthetic clothing.
In 2023, more than 1,000 children aged 15 years old and younger were admitted to hospital burn wards across the country.
Parents are warned to check the labels on their childrens clothing and to beware of materials such as polyester and nylon as the synthetics melt once ignited.
Parents are also urged to choose clothing with low fire danger labels and to teach their children to stop, drop, cover and roll drill in the event their clothes catch fire.
It comes after a number of big brands recalled childrens clothing after the items failed to comply with safety guidelines and regulations.
Levi has undergone eight surgeries to treat his burns, with his parents hoping their sons story would help parents recognise the dangers of synthetic clothing
Retail giant H&M recalled a one-piece pyjama set in July, this year, after the nightwear did not have the required fire hazard labelling.
In the same month, the company behind popular loungewear brand The Oodie was fined after it failed to include fire hazard warning labels on several of its products.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) fined Davie Clothing $101,280 for the safety breach.
Between September 2022 and July 2023, more than 2,460 childrens beach Oodies were found to not have included high fire danger warning labels.
Earlier this year, Kmart recalled a sleepwear set as it did not have the correct fire hazard label and posed a serious risk of burn injuries to children.
Target also recalled several of its pyjama sets in early 2023, as the material posed a fire hazard risk.
In 2022, Kathmandu recalled its Kids Hooded Towel following the ACCCs finding that the product did not comply with the labelling requirements of the mandatory safety standards for nightwear for children.
