'My toddler was left with horror movie burns in a split-second accident'
The mum of a toddler who needed a skin graft after a pot of coffee fell onto him has issued a horrifying warning to other parents.
Laura Hitchings recounted how son Arthur's skin was "coming off in handfuls" after he was covered in the scalding beverage at their home, causing third degree burns. The 34-year-old had prepped a cafetiere for a visit from her mum and had popped to the bathroom when she heard the then-two-year-old screaming.
Tearing back into the kitchen, Laura found Arthur covered in the coffee and ripped off his hoody before carrying him to the garden where she could rinse him down with a cold tap, before calling 999. Paramedics rushed to Laura's home in Stretham, Cambridgeshire, before taking him to hospital.
Laura described his injuries as like being from a 'horror movie' (Laura Farley / SWNS)
Arthur was trying to climb up onto the kitchen top when he tipped the coffee pot over himself (Laura Farley / SWNS)Arthur, who had climbed onto a stool when he accidentally tipped the pot onto himself, was transferred to a burns unit in Chelmsford, Essex, where doctors gave him painkillers. The toddler underwent a gruelling three-and-a-half hour procedure on April 10, 2019, to remove the dead skin.
But just three days later he caught an infection and required a further skin graft using skin from the back of his thigh. Thankfully, the youngster was finally discharged after 10 days in hospital. But despite his "amazing recovery", mum Laura has spoken out as a warning to other parents.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
The toddler was treated for third degree burns (Laura Farley / SWNS)The mum-of-three said: "I just really want to make sure this doesn't happen to other families. These accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and it's very scary. I was seconds away from the kitchen, and when I rushed in I could see that Arthur had used a stool to climb up onto the kitchen side. Arthur loves climbing, and he was tall for his age. His burns were like something from a horror film, his skin was just melting off."
Laura said she was "still haunted" by the sound of his screams when it happened. The toddler had been playing with sister Polly in the garden at the time when Laura quickly popped to the toilet.
"When I was holding him under the garden tap, Arthur was screaming whilst his skin was coming off in my hands and I could instantly see that he was burnt, on one side, from the top of his ear right down to his thigh.
"I remember screaming for help, hoping the neighbours would hear me." She added: "I ran downstairs to get a Calpol, before attempting to put burn dressings on but, because he was so distressed, they wouldn’t stay on.
"As soon as the ambulance arrived, we rushed into the back where Arthur stayed on my lap, crying in pain.'' Now seven, Arthur has recovered from his injuries, but Laura claims she has suffered mentally as a result of what happened.
"I also felt a lot of guilt because I made the coffee," she said. "Even though I did everything I did to prevent it, both me and my parents struggled emotionally, mentally and physically due to the extent of Arthur's injuries."
She added: "When I see people leaving hot cups around young children, it makes my heart stop a little bit.'' After going through the trauma, Laura advises all parents and carers, who drink hot drinks but have young children, to always used a lidded cup.
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