Young boy in critical condition after nativity costume caught fire as 'hero' headteacher praised for coming to his aid

Parents today praised a “hero” headteacher after he ran to save a pupil whose nativity costume caught fire.

The seven-year-old from Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School in Croydon suffered serious burns during a school carol event at a local church.

He was set alight by another boy who tripped while holding a candle and had to be airlifted to hospital. He remains there in a critical but stable condition, police said today.

The accident happened at the Our Lady of The Annunciation church at 2pm on Wednesday.

Headteacher Noel Campbell and another adult are being treated for burns after going to the child’s rescue.

The father of a Year 5 pupil said: “The headteacher was a hero trying to save the lad but that is just like him, he is a tip top guy. He would throw himself under a bus for the kids.

“We are all very shocked and it is one of a parent’s worst nightmares.”

Members of the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade all attended the scene.

The Met said: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service at 2.21pm on Wednesday, December 11.

"A young boy was reported to have received serious burns during a Christmas event. The child has been taken to hospital, his next of kin have been informed."

The Catholic church is part of the Archdiocese of Southwark.

A statement from the Archdiocese on Thursday said: "The Archdiocese of Southwark was informed of an incident that occurred at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Addiscombe, which led to a child suffering serious burns and two adults also sustaining injuries.

"At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the child and those injured, their families, and the school and parish community. The Archdiocese and school involved are co-operating fully with the ongoing investigation."

A spokesman from the London Ambulance Service previously said: "We dispatched two ambulance crews, an emergency responder, a medic in a car and an incident response officer to the scene. We also dispatched a trauma team from London's Air Ambulance."

The London Fire Brigade and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were also informed after the incident.

Mr Campbell said: "Our whole school community is devastated by the incident that occurred at our carol service yesterday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the child and his family at this difficult time. Following this incident our pupils, staff and families are being given support."

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