VIC:Family tragedy, twins fight for life

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2011
VIC:Family tragedy, twins fight for life

MELBOURNE, Feb 14 AAP - Twin four-year-old boys are in induced comas after being severely
burned at a birthday party for their father in Melbourne.

The boys are in critical condition, with one having burns to 80 per cent of his body
and the other with burns to 50 per cent of his body.

They were flown in separate ambulance helicopters to the Royal Children's Hospital.

About 20 members of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) took around 20 minutes to extinguish
the fire which broke out in the garage of the Fordholm Road, Hampton East address, just
after 7pm (AEDT).

Paramedics said both boys were placed in an induced coma to reduce the risk of their
airways closing up.

Operations officer for Westernport area at the CFA, Jimmy Dore, said the two children
were at their father's birthday celebration at their grandparents' home when the blaze
broke out.

"They were at a family gathering," Mr Dore said.

It is believed they were playing in the garage of the home when their clothes caught fire.

"The two children were playing in the rear of the garage when there was some sort of
ignition source ... The roof of the garage caved in," Mr Dore said.

The boys' father, aged 30, was taken by road ambulance to the Dandenong District Hospital,
after suffering minor burns while trying to extinguish the blaze.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined but the Arson and Explosives Squad was
investigating.

AAP xlc/gfr/cdh

KEYWORD: TWINS 2ND UPDATE

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.