Horror of boy, 4, hit by flare

20 November 2009

A FOUR-year-old boy has been left fighting for his life after he was struck by a distress flare yards from his house on Saturday afternoon.

The child, who is believed to be called Ronnie, woke from a medically induced coma on Tuesday after being hit by the maritime distress flare at around 3.30pm at the junction of Chatteris Avenue with Dunstable Road, Harold Hill.

The incident is believed to have happened when the boy, was walking with his mum, dad and baby sister in a pushchair on their way to a birthday party.

It is thought that a flare was fired horizontally from a car, narrowly missing his sister before hitting him in his back.

A female driver stopped to help, laying him on the grass and pouring water on his back.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said that her partner was at home at around 3.30pm when he heard cries for help and initially thought it was a car accident.

He comforted the boy's two year-old sister while the parents and the passer-by administered aid.

Crews from London Ambulance arrived at the scene and the boy was taken to Queen's Hospital in Rom Valley Way, Romford.

He was later transferred to a London hospital where at the time of going to press, he was said to be in a serious but stable condition.

Forensic officers attended the scene and found evidence of the remains of a hand-held parachute assisted rocket flare.

The incident is being treated by the police as a deliberate offence.

The news has shocked residents who also live nearby to where a man was shot last year.

One resident said: "I think it is just horrific and it is very scary what is going on in Harold Hill.

"But I think it is sad that a little boy is the victim so I really feel for his parents."

On Monday November 16, some members of the family were seen returning home.

When asked about the boy's condition, the family said: "He is hanging in there, he is a little fighter."

Police are appealing for two witnesses- the woman who stopped to help and a young black boy who was asking at the scene how the boy was, but left before the police arrived.

Police are also appealing for help to find the remains of the flare that struck the boy.

Officers found some parts of the hand-held parachute rocket distress flare but the outer casing is still missing.

Detective Inspector David Cavanagh, who is dealing with the investigation said: "We would appeal for anyone for information on the whereabouts of this plastic casing, plus the end caps to the tube which contained the flare and accelerant to please come forward."

The flare is believed to be about 12 inches long and is commonly used on sailing boats to raise the alarm by those in trouble.

The police are also trying to trace a silver car which was close to the scene and one line of inquiry is that the flare was thrown from the car.

Anyone with information should contact Havering CID on 01708 779 197 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.

An 18-year-old man was arrested in connectuion with the incident on Monday and was released on police bail pending further enquiries on Tuesday to return to a police station in early December.