Horror fall at bonfire

Horrified friends watched as a man tumbled into a bonfire, suffering a series of burns, during a fireworks party in Stourbridge.

The accident in Sherwood Road was one of a string of fireworks-related accidents which marred celebrations across the region over the weekend. 

Another man is seriously ill in hospital after yobs put a firework through the letter box of his home in Albrighton, while a woman in Wolverhampton suffered serious burns after a stray firework hit her in the chest.

The 43-year-old, injured during the bonfire party in Wollaston, was taken to Russells Hall Hospital after the fun turned to horror at around 12.20am yesterday.

Friends rushed to pour water over the accident victim.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said today: “Others at the party reacted quickly dousing his wounds with water to cool them.”

The Albrighton man was taken to The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford suffering from smoke inhalation after a neighbour, who spotted flames in the doorway of the 53-year-old’s home in Abney Avenue, raised the alarm at 7.55pm on Saturday night.

He was rescued from an upstairs room by the emergency services. 

Meanwhile, the victim from Wolverhampton was injured after a firework launched correctly in Ribbesford Avenue, Oxley, came straight back down at around 8.20pm. Friends put the 52-year-old under a cold shower. 

The woman was taken to New Cross Hospital.

 And an impromptu game of football at a party in Birmingham saw a 17-year-old miss the ball and fall backwards, catching his hand in a bonfire in Albert Road, Stechford, at around 8.30pm on Saturday.