Second boy charged for severely burning eight-year-old

A second young boy, aged 11, has been charged by police in Queensland in addition to a 10-year-old, after an eight-year-old boy was seriously burned from allegedly being set alight.

Paramedics were called to a house in Mount Isa on Saturday after the boy allegedly was burned when a liquid accelerant was thrown at him and set alight.

The two boys and another child were reportedly playing with fire in the backyard at the time when the liquid splashed on the younger boy.

In a statement police said the boys were setting a car tyre on fire when the 10-year-old boy "allegedly poured petrol onto the already-burning fire, causing the eight-year-old boy’s clothes to catch alight in a flare-up caused by the sudden application of the accelerant".

"The boy ran out to the front yard of the property where a witness helped put out the flames. He was then treated by paramedics upon their arrival," the statement said.

He was then rushed to Mount Isa Base Hospital, where he remains in a serious condition, and is expected to be airlifted to Townsville or Brisbane at some point.

Queensland Police have arrested and charged the 10-year-old boy with trespass, stealing, wilful damage by fire and negligent acts causing harm.

He will be subject to the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

News break – March 6