Mum's warning after cheap clothing item 'melts to daughter's skin' in horror accident
The eight-year-old's mother said her daughter's skin began 'falling off' after a gust of wind caused her clothing to catch on fire.
A distraught mother has detailed the terrifying moment the clothing her daughter was wearing went up in flames while the family was enjoying "a little celebration" around a bonfire at their home last month.
Daniella Jacobs-Herd, 8, was with family and friends at their Walliebum property, in the Fraser Coast region of Queensland when a "gust of wind blew flames" from the fire, causing the hooded, blanket-like garment to catch fire. The incident, on July 13th, left the little girl screaming in agony as her parents rushed to her aid.
The material, which Daniella's mother, Hannah Jacobs, described as "cheap and nasty" and "made from so much plastic", allegedly "melted to her skin" with her arms, chest and face suffering serious third-degree burns. The knock-off clothing item was reportedly purchased on rising Chinese e-commerce site Temu.
Since then, the eight-year-old has undergone multiple surgeries to repair the damaged skin and to prevent long-term scarring after being rushed to the local hospital in Hervey Bay, before being transferred to Queensland's Children's Hospital for surgery.
She's also undergone a major procedure for skin grafts to help repair the third-degree burns covering 13 per cent of her little body. Her mother said she has "quite significant burns on her right chest" and will require ongoing grafts and surgery into the future as they prepare for a long and painful recovery.
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Fire causes little girl's skin to 'fall off'
Immediately after the incident, Hannah rushed her daughter into a cool shower where her skin was already "falling off".
"The whole household was very distraught because she was screaming bloody murder," she told 7News. "No one could look at her without crying."
In the meantime, the family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the unexpected medical costs. They say they're "struggling with everyday bills" including rent as they support their daughter's recovery in hospital.
"She’ll have scarring but they’ve tried to minimise the scarring as much as possible," said Hannah. "For the next six to 12 months, we have to constantly do dressing changes and everything."
The mum is warning other parents about the perils of buying similar cheap Oodie-like products.
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