30 June 2023 , 23:44
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The dad of a boy who suffered burns after a horror accident at a nativity play has spoken of the devastating impact in an emotional statement.
The school where the seven-year-old was accidentally set on fire during a nativity play has been handed a £35,000 fine by the Health and Safety Executive.
The boy, now 10, was wearing a sheep costume made of cotton wool next to another child who tripped while holding a candle in a plastic cup and accidentally set his outfit on fire.
St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School's former headteacher Noel Campbell raced to rescue the boy along with another adult, burning their own hands as they patted the flames out.
The child was then airlifted to the hospital from the Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Croydon, South London, where the carol concert took place in December 2019.
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Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Croydon (PA)In an emotional victim impact statement from the boy's father, he wrote: "My son's injuries are permanent and life changing; he has suffered 45 per cent burns. He is lucky to be alive.
"The impact is lived by him and his family every day. I was with him and his mum looking forward to the performance.
"He was a happy child who didn't have a care in the world.
"It felt like a bomb had gone off, everybody started screaming and running out of the church. When he did not come out of the church I was looking for him everywhere.
"I managed to make out something dreadful had happened.
"I saw my son naked standing in a bucket of water, I can never forget his eyes looking up at me - broken.
"I couldn't hold him or touch him.
"I try not to think about his image every day since, but it is tattooed into my mind.
"Underwent nine operations. I have not slept properly since.
"Since that day, my beautiful son has suffered burns to his arms, torso, ear, face and mouth.
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"He's lost confidence, he's become irritable and angry.
The school was handed a fine of £35,000 (UKNIP)"I still have nightmares about the incident even now three years later. I protect my son from every look of a stranger. I think of him growing older in such a cruel world.
"Everything I do is to make sure he is happy. My nightmares remind me I could not save my son.
"It overwhelms me to think my son will not know what a normal life is."
The parents of the boy, who were sitting in the audience, say they suffered psychiatric injuries as a result of witnessing the horrific incident.
The boy and his family - who were granted an anonymity order by procedural judge Master Brown are separately suing the school at the High Court.
The boy's father has claimed more than £100,000 while his mother has asked for £50,000 for their personal injuries.
After a week-long trial at Southwark Crown Court the South Norwood school was convicted by a jury of failing to ensure the health and safety of persons not in its employment
Judge Phillip Bartle, KC, handed the school a fine of £35,000 and will pay additional costs of £25,970.