Boy rushed to hospital with severe burns after nativity accident

A young boy has been rushed to hospital after suffering serious burns at a carol service after his nativity costume ‘erupted’ into flames when a child reportedly fell forward while holding a candle. 

Students from St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School were at Addiscombe Catholic Church in Croydon, south London for ‘a traditional musical celebration of the Nativity Story’ yesterday afternoon.

But 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’.  

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.     

Police have set up a cordon around the church following an incident this afternoon. One child sustained serious burns

Police are carrying out investigations following the incident in which a child sustained severe burns

Police are carrying out investigations following the incident in which a child sustained severe burns

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)

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

London Air Ambulance and LAS attended the scene. Police were called to the church in Croydon on Wednesday, 11 December at 14:21

Did you see what happened?  

Email james.wood@mailonline.co.uk or call 0203 615 2574

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, who are believed to have tried to help the child, were 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. 

Shocked onlookers have told of children filing out the church after the fire. One told MyLondon: ‘A load of primary children were coming out of the church in nativity costumes.’ 

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)

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

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

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

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 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. 

**Did you see what happened? Email james.wood@mailonline.co.uk or call 0203 615 2574** 

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