'I'll never forget my child's screams after common camping act accident'

A mum is urgently warning families to avoid one easy mistake when - after her ran into an extinguished pit and suffered horror burns.

Rachel Greenhalgh said she will "never forget the screams" her child made after the curious two-year-old unknowingly ran towards the boiling coal at Lake Leslie Tourist Park in on Sunday, March 23. Little Apollo fell on top of hot embers which had been covered with sand to put the out. Rachel said: “It happened so quickly, I remember saying ‘no Apollo’, because it’s a fire pit and knowing not to go near it, not thinking about it being hot. I’ll never forget the screams my made.”

Rachel and Apollo were joined by other family members who were staying at the park to celebrate a birthday. The mum was holding her eight-month-old son Leonardo and loading up the car to leave the site when she called Apollo towards her. But the tot got distracted, walking along what he thought was just sand. Apollo instead found himself dircetly on top of the fire pit, which had been extinguished 12 hours earlier. He lay screaming in agony before Rachel's dad rushed to pull him to safety. “It had been put out the night before with water and sand – he thought it was just sand,” the 32-year-old told Kidspot.

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She added: “I had Leo in my arms, I couldn’t get to him. My dad was next to him and bolted. Apollo was screaming and running around in pain – my dad took him straight to the showers. Dad instantly knew to put him under cool water. My brother already had the shower running and Apollo was in it immediately.

“If it was only me there, it would have been a lot longer and much worse.” Apollo was left with burns on his palms, fingers, toes and the soles of his feet.

Rachel said: “Apollo’s hands were red, and skin was peeling straight away in the showers. Dad still thinks he didn’t do enough, that’s how bad it was straight away. I am so blessed how quickly he reacted.” The family drove to Warwick Hospital as Apollo screamed in pain the entire journey. He was quickly transferred to the Burns Unit at the Royal Brisbane Hospital where he underwent surgery.

Since then, the younster has had two further procedures. “At first, doctors said it wasn’t as bad as it could be, but after the second surgery, they said the healing wasn’t where they wanted it. Treatment will be longer than expected,” Rachel said. Medical staff are especially concerned about Apollo’s left hand and foot, both in between a second and third-degree burn. The toddler is refusing to use his left hand – which medical staff fear will impact the healing process.

“When the pain medication kicks in, Apollo’s smiling and playing and doing all the normal things. But they’re worried about stiffness in his left hand,” Rachel said. “He’s starting to bite and hit out of frustration, which I’m told is normal after incidents like this.”

A has been set up by Rachel’s aunty, Jane Anderssen, to support the family through emotional and financial turmoil. “Who knows what medical bills lie ahead, they still have rent and food to buy, and Rach has only just gone back to work after maternity leave, and doesn’t have any leave available to use,” she wrote on the fundraising page. “I have started this to help Rach and Chris to give Apollo the best support they can by being able to be together in hospital in Brisbane as long as Apollo needs.”

Parents are now being encouraged to have their children wear shoes in campsites. “I did not comprehend or think how hot it could be hours after it was put out, even with sand and water,” Rachel admitted. “We were right there next to him, and it still happened.”

The says people at greater risk from the effects of burns, such as children under 10 years old, should get medical attention after a burn or scald. They advise to immediately get the person away from the heat source to stop the burning, and to remove any clothing or jewellery that's near the burnt area of skin, including babies' nappies - but not to move anything that's stuck to the skin.

Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes – do not use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances like butter. Make sure the person keeps warm by using a blanket, for example, but take care not to rub it against the burnt area. After cooling the burn, cover it by placing a layer of cling film over it – a clean plastic bag could also be used for burns on your hand.