Dean Gray suffers life threatening burns after Wattle Camp fire

A 13-year-old boy is fighting for life in Qld Children’s Hospital after catching fire in a freak caravan annex blaze that left him with burns to a third of his body.

The community has rallied together to support a South Burnett teen after a tragic caravan fire left him with life threatening burns, unable to breath.

The lives of a Burnett family changed dramatically when fire erupted in a caravan annex on their property on Saturday night, leaving their young son with life threatening burns, unable to breath and in a coma.

Dean Gray, 13, was asleep in the annex at Birch Rd at Wattle Camp, a rural community in the South Burnett, about 8pm on July 29, when the annex became engulfed in flames.

Just what caused those flames remains unclear, but two of the boys caught on fire and their screams quicly brought Dean’s mum running.

“I was alerted by heart wrenching screams and I bolted to find the boys,” Teresa Gray said.

“Dean’s pants had caught on fire and I beat him with pillows to put the flames out,” Mr Gray said.

Dean’s mother Teresa Gray, pictured with Dean, said the caravan annex was engulfed in flames. Photo: Dean and Teresa.

“I hosed him and the other kids and removed his pants before hosing him down.”

Ms Gray managed to put out the fire with a hose and immediately called an ambulance.

Teens suffer serious burns in freak fire accident at Qld campsite

Paramedics arrived at the property at 8.20pm and rushed Dean, who was suffering significant burns to his lower legs and hands, to Kingaroy Hospital.

Two other boys were also taken to hospital, in a stable condition, one with serious burns to his lower leg and hands.

Ms Gray said shortly after arriving at Kingaroy Hospital, Dean was airlifted to the Queensland Children’s Hospital where it was diagnosed more than 30 per cent of his body had been badly burnt.

Paramedics arrived at the Wattle Camp property at 8.20pm on Saturday and transported Dean and two other boys to Kingaroy Hospital.

“Some of the burns were full layered which means he needs skin grafts,” Ms Gray said.

“He has burns to his airways, including his oesophagus, and requires a breathing tube.

“Dean has undergone an operation to remove dead skin, has had a semi permanent cannula and is waiting to be transferred to the intensive care unit.

“He won’t be awake for some time.”

Doctors have not given Dean a discharge date but hope he will recover enough to go home in the next few weeks.

Dean’s aunty Fiona Gray is urging the community to contribute to a GoFundMe set up by family and friends to support Ms Gray during Dean’s recovery.

Best friend Elisha Petterson said she would love to put the funds raised together to help Ms Gray with bills and accommodation while she is unable to work.

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“Teresa is an amazing mum and friend and she deserves this little bit of help,” she said.

If you can donate, click here.