Wheelbarrow fire burns three
Three people were seriously burned after a man poured methylated spirits on a fire in a wheelbarrow, Leichhardt Police report.
About 3.20am on 13 June, two men aged 22 and 24 and a female, 20, were in the rear courtyard of Bridge Road Glebe premises with some friends. The group were consuming alcohol throughout the evening.
As it was cold a fire was lit in a wheelbarrow. The fire was burning down to coals when it is alleged a male poured methylated spirits from a bottle directly onto the fire. The fire travelled up the liquid and propelled the bottle backwards covering the victims with the burning liquid.
The 24-year-old man has received burns to both his hands. The 22-year-old man has received serious burns to his chest, neck and hands and the 20-year-old female received burns to her face. All three were conveyed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment, where they were sedated and transferred to the Burns Unit at Concord Hospital, where the 22-year-old was declared to be in a critical but stable condition.
He underwent surgery to relieve pressure on the burns while the 20-year-old female was in a stable condition.
