Bonfire attack victim has 'serious burns', says councillor

A teenage boy who fell into a bonfire after being knocked unconscious by a punch has "severe burns" to his face and hands, a councillor has said.

The 17-year-old was attacked as he attended a Halloween bonfire in Strabane, County Tyrone, on Saturday night.

Independent councillor Paul Gallagher has spoken to the boy's mother and said she is "distraught".

He also praised the bravery of a teenage girl who pulled the injured boy from the bonfire in Bradley Way.

"Young people have gone to the bonfire and in the chaos of it, a young 17-year-old got knocked unconscious, fell onto a fire which at best can be described as white hot," Gallagher told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

"Fortunately, a young girl was able to drag him off.

"I've spoken to his mother who was very distraught, to say the least."

Gallagher said the boy will now require extensive medical care and it will take a long time for him to recover.

"The chaos around a bonfire is madness and it should never have happened that a young boy gets knocked out and put on a fire.

"Bonfires bring very little benefit, they are destructive, they are a serious danger to young people."

The police are stepping up their hunt for the boy's attacker but no arrests have been made.

They have appealed for witnesses to come forward, including anyone who may have captured the attack on their mobile phones.