Severely burnt Littlehampton boy remains in a ‘critical condition’

The 17-year-old, who had suffered severe trauma to his torso and lower body, was given emergency first aid by firefighters at the Littlehampton fire station, in Maltravers Road, at 5.24pm, after a passing crewman noticed him stumbling in the street.

Ambulance crews arrived to tend to the stricken youngster shortly afterwards, at 5.29pm.

However, a decision was made to airlifted him to hospital as his injuries were considered to be too severe.

The boy was flown to Southampton Hospital with electrical injuries and has since been transferred to the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, where is condition has been described as ‘critical’ by a spokesman for Sussex Police.

A spokeswoman from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) said the boy hadn’t been injured at the fire station but elsewhere.

“He had suffered really serious burns to his upper torso and lower body,” she said. “He was in a very seriously condition.

“A crew from Sussex Air Ambulance landed in Caffyn’s Field to fly the injured male to Southampton.”

Officers from Sussex Police are now investigating the incident.

A police spokesman said: “It would appear that the male suffered the injuries near a high-voltage power system.”

The force is now appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101, using serial number 1192/7.