AN eight-year-old boy is doing well in hospital after an incident in which it is thought he burnt himself while playing on his Nintendo Wii.

Football-mad Cairan Davies, of Llandybie Road, Ammanford, had to have a skin graft after he received 8 per cent burns to his arms and chest.

The fire service said he had been using candles as a replacement for the games console's infrared technology, which had broken.

Tirydail Square, in Ammanford, was brought to a standstill when the incident happened at 5pm on Monday, February 13.

The Wales Air Ambulance landed near Cairan's house and fire and police crews also rushed to the scene.

The boy was flown to Morriston Hospital, in Swansea, where he was scheduled to undergo a skin graft on his chest.

A spokesman for the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "It appears that the boy was upstairs playing on a Wii games console when the incident occurred.

"I understand tea lights had been lit to make the console work." But, in the statement released last Tuesday, the spokesman added: "Once again we see a child left to play with matches and sustaining what could have been a life threatening injury."

Speculation

The Journal did not publish this detail, and nor did its sister paper, the South Wales Evening Post, but it was reported in other media outlets.

And this prompted an angry statement from parents Sarah Davies and James Setterfield.

"We are angry and upset about the unsubstantiated speculation in the media about what happened to Cairan," they said in a joint statement issued through Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board.

"The truth is at the moment no-one knows what happened.

"There has not been an investigation and Cairan is too upset to speak about the incident.

"We would like to stress we do not allow any of our children to play with matches.

"The speculation has led to members of our family — including Cairan's siblings — being questioned in the street by members of the public, which is very upsetting for them. We please ask that this speculation ceases, as it is not helpful.

"He is doing well but has had to have skin grafts so it will take a while for him to fully recover.

"Cairan has not received 18 per cent burns as incorrectly reported, but 8 per cent."

It is understood senior officers from the fire service visited the family following their angry reaction.

But the authority declined to comment due to the family's request for privacy.