A 12-year-old boy suffered horrific third-degree burns to his body after his polyester jumper caught fire.
Victorian boy Levi Presland was playing in his backyard when a spark from the lighter he was playing with landed on his sweater.
His mother, Amie Presland, explained that her son was “just flicking” the lighter when his sweater, which was made of a highly flammable material, “just lit up.”
His quick-thinking 14-year-old sister Megan sprang into action and blasted her brother with the garden hose, saving his life.
“I went into action mode,” Megan said. 7News.
“I looked up and saw him engulfed in flames, trying to take off his sweater.”
Emergency services, including on- and off-duty paramedics, arrived at the home within minutes.
Levi was flown two hours away to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, where he was immediately taken into surgery.
Levi Presland, 12, suffered third-degree burns to his torso and armpits and minor burns to his face and hands after his polyester jersey caught fire.
His quick-thinking 14-year-old sister Megan (pictured) sprang into action and blasted her brother with the garden hose, saving his life.
The young man suffered complete burns, known as third-degree burns, to his torso and armpits, and minor burns to his face and hand that he suffered while removing his jersey.
Since then, Levi has undergone eight surgeries, including skin grafts that took skin from his thighs to treat burns on his chest.
Despite the long road to recovery, the young man said he “felt very good.”
Friends of Mrs. Presland and her husband Mark started a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of Levi’s medical and rehabilitation bills.
“His parents, Mark and Amie, take turns staying in the hospital with Levi, affecting his ability to work and putting a strain on his finances,” the background reads.
Fund organizer and friend Stephen Ritchie explained that the couple found it especially difficult after having to close their small business due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s particularly difficult after facing the challenges of small business ownership throughout COVID in Melbourne,” he wrote.
“They closed the doors of their business on Christmas 2023 and returned to the country to be close to family support.”
‘Amie’s friends have started this fundraiser to ease the tension. “We recognize that this is a difficult time for many right now, and our hope is that many small amounts can help ease the current strain on Levi and his family.”
Mr. and Mrs. Presland want Levi’s story to help other parents understand and detect the dangers of synthetic clothing.
In 2023, more than 1,000 children ages 15 and younger were admitted to hospital burn wards across the country.
Parents are warned to check the labels on their children’s clothing and to be careful with materials such as polyester and nylon, as synthetics melt once ignited.
Parents are also urged to choose clothing with low fire risk labels and to teach their children the “stop, drop, cover and roll” exercise in case their clothing catches fire.
It comes after several big brands recalled children’s clothing from the market after the items did not meet safety guidelines and standards.
Levi has undergone eight surgeries to treat his burns and his parents hope their son’s story will help parents recognize the dangers of synthetic clothing.
Retail giant H&M recalled a one-piece pajama set in July this year after the sleepwear product did not have the required fire hazard label.
That same month, the company behind popular loungewear brand The Oodie was fined for failing to include fire hazard warning labels on several of its products.
He The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) fined Davie Clothing $101,280 for the safety breach.
Between September 2022 and July 2023, more than 2,460 children’s ‘Beach Oodies’ were found to not include high fire hazard warning labels.
Earlier this year, Kmart recalled a set of sleepwear because it was not properly labeled as a fire hazard and posed a serious burn risk to children.
Target also recalled several of its pajama sets in early 2023 because the material posed a fire risk.
In 2022, Kathmandu recalled its children’s hooded towel following the ACCC’s conclusion that the product “did not comply with the labeling requirements of the mandatory safety standards for children’s sleepwear”.