By Islam El-Sakka
A 17-year-old boy suffered severe burns to his face and hands after being punched unconscious and falling into a bonfire in Strabane, County Tyrone, on Saturday night. The incident occurred during a Halloween bonfire gathering.
Quick thinking saves victim
Tianna Patterson, also 17, witnessed the assault and saw the boy collapse into the fire. She said she acted on instinct, pulling him out by the neck and then using a friend's phone to call emergency services. Patterson is an A Level student at Holy Cross College in Strabane.
Mother and councillor react
Patterson's mother, Alex, praised her daughter's quick thinking, saying it prevented a tragedy. Independent councillor Paul Gallagher, who spoke to the victim's mother, described her as distraught. He called the bonfire "white hot" and said bonfires are destructive and a serious danger to young people.
Police investigation underway
The police are stepping up their hunt for the attacker but have made no arrests. They have appealed for witnesses to come forward, including anyone who may have recorded the assault on mobile phones.
