Durban -
A six-year-old Shallcross boy died in hospital the day after he swallowed a firework on Diwali.
Tyreece Jordan Naicker, of Table Mountain Road, swallowed the firework on Sunday morning but had only told his mother later that day. She made him regurgitate and found a piece of the firework.
On Monday the boy was admitted to hospital where he later died.
His uncle, Pastor Ronnie Naicker, said he was not certain how much of the firework Tyreece had swallowed. He was also not certain what the firework was called but he said it looked like a small, green pencil. The tip of the firework has to be rubbed on the floor to ignite it, as in striking a match. It lets off a fountain of sparks.
Naicker said Tyreece, who attended Simla Primary School, was his normal self the entire evening but he took a turn for the worse on Monday at 11am.
His mother rushed him to Chatsworth’s RK Khan Hospital.
“The doctors carried out various medical tests on him including a CT scan and a blood test.
“He passed on while his mother was by his side at 2.30pm,” he said.
“Doctors tried everything to resuscitate him.”
His mother, Michelle, a housewife, and his father, Clive, a diesel mechanic, were both in a state of shock and were too distraught to speak when the Daily News visited the family’s home on Tuesday.
Ronnie, a father of two sons aged 23 and 15, said he regarded Tyreece as his own son.
Recalling fond memories they shared, while holding back tears, Naicker remembered when he would put then three-year-old Tyreece on his lap and let the little boy think he was driving the car.
Tyreece had three sisters, aged 15, 10 and 3.
Naicker said parents should heed the warnings on the boxes of firecrackers.
Tyreece enjoyed art and Sunday school church plays and his ambition was to become a pastor, he said.
A prayer service will be held for him at the Nazarene Church in Shallcross on Wednesday and he will be cremated at the Mobeni Heights Crematorium.
Joshua Bhorsay, another young boy injured by fireworks on Sunday night, is recovering.
He was celebrating Diwali with a friend when a firework exploded in their faces.
Vickey Naidoo, principal of Esslen Heights Primary School, where Joshua is in Grade 7, said he had spoken to the boy’s parents: “He’s doing fine and recovering at home. A few of our teachers went to visit him yesterday. His bandages have been removed.”
Vanespiri Pillay, acting operations manager for Childline KZN said that ultimately the care and responsibility of the safety of children lie with parents and caregivers. “At this time of the year we are inundated with images of injured children by the media. Whilst this is disturbing and distressing, these incidents are avoidable with proper adult supervision,” she said.
On advice to parents, Pillay said that children should be supervised by adults at all times and they should ensure that children do not light fireworks. For advice on the safe handling of fireworks and parenting skills, call Childline KZN’s 24-hour crisis line at 08000 55555.
Daily News