Malaysia: Flaming balloon hurts child

ADRIAN DAVID New Straits Times 30 Oct 15;

KUALA TERENGGANU: It was the second bizzare case in a fortnight of a helium gas inflated balloon bursting into flames in the face of a child, causing serious injuries.

Nuur Aini Syakila Abdul Kadir, three, was badly burnt on her face and head after a balloon she was playing with burst into flames at her home in Kampung Bukit Merah, Dungun.

Relating the 8.45pm incident, her mother Mariah Mat Midin, 29, said she had just returned home after buying fried chicken and the balloon at a pasar malam nearby.

“I went over to the kitchen to prepare a meal for the family and was washing my hands in the sink. Just then, Nuur Aini Syakila appeared in the kitchen complaining that the balloon had sprung a leak.

“Before I could react, my younger child grabbed the balloon, and ran towards the burning stove. That was when an explosion took place and Nuur Aini Syakila, who was closest to the balloon, suffered the burns,” said Mariah.

She added that she panicked upon seeing Nuur Aini Syakila’s face and hair on fire and quickly smothered the flames with her bare hands.

Mariah then summoned the help of neighbours to send her daughter to Dungun Hospital before the victim was transferred to a ward at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu.

Just a fortnight ago on Oct 14, Nurul Atirah Ibrahim, 10, suffered burns to her face and hands following the explosion of a gas filled balloon at Pekan Budaya Pantai Teluk Mak Nik, Kemaman,

In the 12.20pm incident, Nurul Atirah said she was playing with dozens of balloons on stage at a sports carnival, when a man approached her.

She said the man had given her a lighter to detach the balloons strung in a bunch.

“I did not realise the danger until the balloons got ignited and burst, sending people scurrying for cover.

“I and my friend Nur Dhiya Safiyah, 11, and three others failed to escape and were burnt,” said Nurul Atirah who was the most affected.

The victims were admitted to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for treatment.

PIX – A heavily bandaged Nuur Aini Syakila Abdul Kadir recuperating at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.