'Burns were most vivid moment of my childhood' (From The Northern Echo)

'Burns were most vivid moment of my childhood'

8:56am Thursday 19th April 2007 in Protect Our Children

A MAN who suffered terrible burns as a five-year-old is backing The Northern Echo's campaign to change the law.

Paul Mallaby, now 43, was making toast at his home in Sunderland when part of a match came off and set light to his pyjama top.

Soon, the entire garment was alight. His screams brought his mother, who was in bed with flu, rushing to the kitchen, where she pulled the blazing top from him.

Mr Mallaby suffered burns to his chest, neck, shoulder and one arm. He spent three months in hospital and has endured numerous skin grafts.

He contacted The Northern Echo after reading about Daniel Mitchard-Harrison's ordeal.

Mr Mallaby, who lives in West Boldon, South Tyneside, said: "I remember it in detail, it was the most vivid experience of my childhood.

"It was one of the old matches and when I struck it, a bit jumped off and landed on my chest. It went up in flames and I screamed.

"If you can imagine the pain when you burn your hand on the cooker, it is 50 times worse and it affects you long afterwards.

"I had to miss school every time I went for skin grafts, which were painful.

"I do not want another child to go through what I had to go through."

Mr Mallaby, who has two children, has learnt to live with his scars and does not hide them, although he has been teased in the past.

"Anything that stops another child getting burned like I did is worth it, even if it is just one child," he said.

Andrew Mitchard, Daniel's grandfather, said yesterday: "I would like to thank Paul for sharing his story. Without people like Paul, this campaign would die a death and the same thing would happen to another child."