Having clung bravely to life for three days, a five-year-old boy, who suffered terrible burns after accidently setting fire to his house, died of his injuries in hospital last Friday.
The little lad had been left in the care of his 18-year-old sister at their home in Lesilakgokong village on Tuesday, with their mother, 35, out running errands in nearby Molepolole.
It is said the teenager momentarily left her little brother unattended, leaving to fetch water not far from the house in the middle of the day.
Although she was not gone for long, it proved enough. It is suspected the child started playing with matches, causing the hut to catch fire.
Confirming the tragic development, Lekgwapheng Station Commander, Mothosera Busang revealed, “The mother who came to report said around 12 midday, she was phoned by the neighbours who informed her that her house was on fire. The neighbours were alerted by the blaze and when they rushed to the scene, they saw the boy getting out of the burning house having sustained burn wounds on the body.”
The youngster was rushed to Scottish Livingstone Hospital and later referred to Gaborone Private Hospital. Sadly, his wounds proved too great and he did not survive.
The blaze is estimated to have caused P10, 600 worth of damage; however, that pales in significance to the pain of losing a loved one so young.
Superintendent Busang advised parents to keep potentially dangerous items out of the reach of young children whenever possible.
