BURNED TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 9

BURNED TO DEATH.

gOY PLAYING WITH PETROL.

jqj A MATCH TO A GALLON

TERRIBLY injured

(By Teleff™Pb— Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH. this day

BJchard Vernon Watkins, aged 10, was vornedto death yesterday. He and three tier boys found a gallon of petrol in a 0 w*tkins P a ma^ ar "^ h e could run the flames caught his whes inflicting terrible burns, from f£ be died six hour, later *vfraon Watkins, his brother, aged iiAt and the two sons of Mr. J. H. Hackthorne Road, aged ten and 2ft, were paying at Mr. Gales' res,Jen» vesterday mornmg when they S among some rubbish which had wn left bv the previous occupier of the rL a petrol tin which had about a illon' of spirit in it. Taking toe tin £ the paddock opposite the house the Ls lit a fire ' and ' as far aS can \1 gathered, Vernon put a match to Se-tiß, which immediately exploded. Burned From Head to Foot. A sheet of flame enveloped the boy's w apparently paralysing tflem, and u fell on to the tin, receiving fnghtiul burns. He was completely burned from head to foot, and not a stitch of cloth'"ihTother boys immediately rushed to H jj r8 Gale, and an ambulance was w mmoned to take the boy to the hosfeature of the accident m , that the boy was conscious right BP to the end, and must have been in terrible tgony. When going to the hospital ia an ambulance, the boy asked iis father to pray for him, as he said In felt that he would not pull through. ' No Chance of Recovery. Mr. Gale states that the boy's bravery vas amaiing. He did not cry and hardly httertd a complaint. All that could be tone wa« done, but his injuries were to bad that there was practically no thince Of the boy's recovering. Mr. Gale has only recently taken .up residents In the house, and he had no idea that petrol was about. It Was in ■ rubbiih heap and was in a place where no adult would think of looking for it. K«ne Of the other boys was hurt, although one Of the Gale boys had his ihirt slightly singed.