Nine-year-old suffers severe burns in viral 'fire challenge' stunt

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 19:44 · Archive

A 9-year-old boy sustained burns to over 70% of his body by participating in the 'fire challenge' viral trend.

A 9-year-old boy in New Orleans sustained burns to more than 70% of his body after joining the 'fire challenge', a viral social media trend. New Orleans Fire Department Chief Roman Nelson and Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick released a video warning families about the dangerous practice, in which participants douse themselves in a household accelerant such as isopropyl alcohol or acetone, set themselves ablaze, and attempt to extinguish the flames.

Nelson described the boy as 'lucky to be alive' and said he is in 'unbearable pain'. Kirkpatrick stated the challenge 'is not fun, and it is not funny' and urged parents to have conversations with their children about extreme behaviours on social media. She addressed young people directly: 'Kids, don't fall for this gimmick and don't feel peer pressure to take part in it. Your life is not worth it.'

How it is being reported

• Warnings issued after 9-year-old injured while participating in social media ‘fire challenge’The child is in ‘unbearable pain,’ New Orleans officials saidIndependent World · 20 Oct, 19:59
• Horror as 9-year-old boy is left in unbearable pain after burning 70 percent of his body in viral 'fire challenge'The New Orleans Fire Department Chief and Police Department Superintendent urged parents to speak to their children about the dangerous trend.Daily Mail · 20 Oct, 19:28
• Boy, 9, burns 70% of his body in terrifying, viral ‘fire challenge’“It’s very dangerous. It is not fun, and it is not funny,” said New Orleans' police department superintendent.New York Post · 20 Oct, 13:36

In this story: New Orleans Fire Department · New Orleans Police Department · Roman Nelson · Anne Kirkpatrick · New Orleans

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