The mother of an Aberdeen youngster who was badly burned when a prank went wrong has thanked medics, 999 crews and the public for their support.
Seven-year-old Preston Flores remained critically ill in hospital last night after he suffered 80% burns to his body in a fire on Bedford Avenue.
The Sunnybank School pupil’s family have been keeping vigil by his bedside at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children since he was transferred there from Aberdeen following the incident on Friday.
His mother Luisza Flores, 32, issued a statement last night, praising the community for the way people had rallied round.
“We are very grateful for everything that has been done to help Preston and his family at this extremely difficult time,” she said.
“On behalf of us all I want to thank the medical staff and the emergency services for all they are doing to help us.
“We are also very appreciative of the support of our friends and the local Bedford community as well as the wider public.
“We thank everyone for their help in our time of need and would kindly request that we are now allowed our privacy to deal with this as a family ourselves.”
The primary three pupil had been playing with two of his cousins when the incident happened on Friday afternoon.
The children are believed to have taken petrol from a council van.
Neighbours described seeing Preston running down the street on fire from the neck downwards. He was initially taken to Aberdeen Children’s Hospital for treatment, but the nature of his burns meant he was transferred to Edinburgh that evening.
Councillor for the area, Jim Noble, said: “So far it looks like a terrible accident. The community have been terrific in offering support on the day of the incident, the community centre was open in the evening as well because police were conducting an investigation.”
A police spokesman said inquiries into the incident were continuing.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said staff were helping police with the investigation.