BOY FATALLY BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 10

BOY FATALLY BURNED.

PETROL FOUND IN TIN. IGNITED WITH A MATCH. AN EXPLOSION RESULTS. REMARKABLE FORTITUDE SHOWN [BV • TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHBISTCHURCH. Tuesday. As a result of petrol exploding, Richard Vernon Wat kins, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs R. T. Wat kins, of Hackthorne Road, Cashmere, received terrible burns, from which he died .111 the Lewisliain Hospital at 5.30 p.m. yesterday. The boy, his brother aged eight ,and two sons of Mr. J. H. Gale, of Hacktbornc Road, aged ten and eight years, were playing at Mr. Gale's resideuce yesterday morning, when they found, among some rubbish which had been left by the previous occupier ot the house, a petrol tin that had apparently about a gallon of spirit left in it. Taking the tin to a paddock opposite the house, the boys lit a lire, and, as far as can be gathered from the boys themselves, Vernon put a match to the tin, which immediately exploded. A sheet of flame enveloped his legs apparently paralysing them, and he fell on to the tin, receiving frightful burns. He was completely burned from head to foot, and not a stitch of clothing was left unburned. The other boys immediately rushed to get Mrs. Gale, and an ambulance -was summoned to take .the boy to the hospital. A distressing feature of the accident was that the boy was conscious right up to the end, and must have been in terrible agony. Asked Father to Pray. When going to the hospital in the ambulance the boy asked his father to pray for him, as he said he feFt that he would not pull through. Mr. Gale states that the boy's bravery was amazing. He did not cry and hardly uttered a complaint. AH that could be done was done, but the injuries were so bad that there was practically no chance of the boy recovering. From the soory told by the boys, who were the on.ly ones to see the accident, it appears that two of them tried to dissuade Verrion from lighting the petrol. They were all young and did not realise t j the full their danger. According to Mr. Gale, Watkins was i fine type of boy, very bright, and we:ll developed physically.. He was very full of life, and was probably the leader of the party. Mr. Gale had only recently taken up his residence in the house, and had no idea that the petrol was there.. It was in a rubbish heap, and was in a place where no adult would think of looking for it. None of tha other boys was hurt, although one of the Gale boys had his shirt slightly singed. Evidence at the Inquent, At the inquest to-day Alexander Gale, aged 10, who was with the deceased, said the benzine tin waii in the wash-house at his home beneath some lumber. They went to an aljoining vacant section to light a fire, taking with them the tin, which contained only a. small quantity of benzine. Watkins had some dry flax twine in his imnd and he dipped it in petrol and set fire to it. An explosion occurred instantly and Watkins was enveloped in flames. The deceased's younger brother, aged 9, rushed to help him but was unable to beat out the flames and was badly burned on the hand. The other boys present ran to tell their mother what had happened. Mrs. Gale said she had no idea the benzine was on the place, and it must have been left there by the previous occupier. The verdict was that Watkins died following extreme burns accidentally received. The coroner added that the tragic occurrence should serve as a warning to people not to leave benzine where children could gain access to it. In this case no blame was attachable to Mr. and Mrs. Gale. He commended the action of Reginald Watkins in attempting to save his brother.