A young boy is fighting for his life after suffering serious burns when his nativity costume erupted into flames following an accident with a candle during a nativity carol service at a south London church.
Three people including the boy were injured during the incident at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church on Bingham Road, Croydon, on Wednesday afternoon.
The boy was attending a carol service with pupils at St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School, which is less than a mile away from the church.
During the service, a child is reported to have fallen forward while holding a candle and set alight to another youngster’s nativity costume – which was ‘completely engulfed in seconds.’
It is believed that the two others injured are teachers at St Thomas Becket, who rushed to put out the flames covering the child.
Three people including the boy were injured during the incident at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church on Bingham Road, Croydon, on Wednesday afternoon.
Police are carrying out investigations following the incident in which a child sustained severe burns. He remains in critical but stable condition
One parent reported seeing children in tears after seeing the child engulfed in flames, while another witness later saw children filing out the building (pictured, police outside the building)
London Air Ambulance and LAS attended the scene. Police were called to the church in Croydon on Wednesday, 11 December at 14:21
One parent reported seeing children in tears after watching the child enveloped in flames, while another witness later saw children filing out the building as police quickly set up a cordon around the place of worship.
The child’s distressed father was later heard shouting ‘my son’ according to a local shopkeeper who spoke to The Sun, who said the man was ‘crying’ and ‘really upset’.
While another witness, describing what happened during the service, said: ‘The kids were walking around with candles as part of the performance when one of the eight-year-olds fell into the pupil in front.
‘That set fire to his costume, which was completely engulfed in seconds.’
Police have said the child suffered serious injuries as a result, while a man and a woman also injured.
The child was taken to hospital by helicopter, while the two adults were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital by land.
A newsletter for St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary issued on Tuesday notified parents and staff of the event at the church.
It read: ‘On Wednesday, December 11 the school choir and all junior classes will take part in a Carol Service at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church.
‘This will commence at 2pm and finish at 3pm. All are welcome to join us for a traditional musical celebration of the Nativity Story.’
London Air Ambulance and London Ambulance Service attended the scene. The child has been taken to hospital, his next of kin have been informed.
London Fire Brigade and the Health and Safety Executive have also been informed.
London Air Ambulance and London Ambulance Service attended the scene. The child has been taken to hospital, his next of kin have been informed (pictured, emergency services outside the church today)
Police (pictured outside the scene) have said the child suffered serious injuries as a result, while a man and a woman, who are believed to have tried to help the child, were also injured
An image posted by Addiscombe Catholic Church just weeks ago shows families setting up a festive display inside the place of worship
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We were called at 2:10pm today to reports of an incident on Bingham Road, Croydon.
‘We dispatched two ambulance crews, an emergency responder, a medic in a car and an incident response officer to the scene. We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance.’
The spokesman added: ‘We treated three people at the scene for burns including a child, a man and a woman.
‘We took the child to hospital by air and we took the man and the woman to hospital by road.’
The incident took place at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church (above) on Bingham Road. Two adults were also treated for burns at the scene
A London Ambulance service spokesperson said three people were treated at the scene for burns, including a child, a man and a woman
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police were called by London Ambulance Service at 2.21pm to Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, Bingham Road, Croydon.
‘A young boy was reported to have received serious burns during a Christmas event.
‘One adult was also reported to have received burn injuries, these are not believed to be serious. London Air Ambulance and LAS attended the scene.
‘The child has been taken to hospital, his next of kin have been informed. London Fire Brigade and Health and Safety Executive have also been informed.’
MailOnline has contacted Our Lady of the Annunciation Church for comment.
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