Toddler Badly Burned After Falling Onto BBQ

The barbecue was stuck to the two-and-a-half-year-old's stomach because of the heat but her parents managed to pull it off.

Luii suffered serious burns after the 'horrifying' accident

A toddler has been scarred for life after falling face-first onto a smouldering barbecue in a "horrifying" case.

Luii Duncan suffered burns to her face, arms, chest and hands and is likely to need a skin graft.

The barbecue was so hot it stuck to the two-and-a-half-year-old girl's stomach.

Her mother, Rosemary Duncan, of Morden, south London said she cannot get that image out her head.
She said: "I'm trying to block it out, but I want to warn people about the dangers of leaving hot barbecues in parks."

"It's horrifying to see a man holding up your child and seeing her with a barbecue stuck on her stomach. Everyone was throwing water on her and trying to pull it off."

The metal barbecue had been left smouldering by its owners, despite being asked by friends of Luii's parents to put it out before they left Beddington Park in Sutton.

Moments later, as she was playing with a group of children nearby, she fell on to the red hot coals and suffered serious burns.

Her parents and their friends managed to pull the barbecue off Luii after dousing her with water.

She was taken by ambulance to nearby St Helier Hospital before being transferred to a specialist burns unit at Chelsea Children's Hospital.

The youngster remained in hospital under observation but is now back home.

Mrs Duncan said: "It's a long journey to recovery for her. We're just thankful she is going to be OK.
"She will have a scar for life on her stomach, and burns on her arms. She is still having trouble sleeping."
Mrs Duncan said more needed to be done to prevent another such accident. "There need to be more wardens around to enforce the rules. Next time a young child might be killed."

Luii's father, Nathan Duncan, said: "Our daughter has been subjected to untold agony and trauma due to negligence, inconsideration and a deep lack of care for others."

A council spokesman said: "We are sorry this unfortunate incident occurred and we wish the little girl a speedy recovery.

"Sutton is proud of its parks and open spaces and we do all we can to make sure they are safe for residents to enjoy.

"We would like to draw attention to the park bylaws which forbid anyone from lighting a fire for a barbecue or any other reason unless it is in a designated area on one of the stands provided.
"In this incident the barbecue was not on a stand."

Police have said that after investigating the issue they would not bring any criminal charges but will increase patrols in parks by PCSOs (community support officers) while the hot weather continues.