Lorenzo Lopez was left with ‘excruciating’ burns (Picture: KWCH)
A young boy was left with burns over his body after he was electrocuted while he slept.
Lorenzo Lopez, from Kansas, was left in excruciating pain when his chain necklace got caught between his phone charger and an extension cable.
The eight-year-old woke up, terrified and unable to scream when he felt his t-shirt on fire.
He saved his own life by pulling the chain off his neck.
Speaking in his hospital bed, Lorenzo told news channel KWCH that he ‘thought I was going to die’ and said the incident on November 20 was ‘just scary’.
Lorenzo said: ‘It was chaos, but I do remember some of it.’
His mum Kourtney Pendleton said: ‘Lorenzo rolled over in his sleep and his chain necklace just happened to fall in between where the gap was on the extension cord and the charger, which is what shocked him.’
Lorenzo was left with burns on his body, neck and hands (Picture: Kourtney Pendleton/Facebook)
Kourtney, who described her son as brave, said: ‘Had he not pulled that chain off, he would have been electrocuted to death. So he basically saved his own life.’
Lorenzo added: ‘I guess I saved myself and I’m happy about that.’
He was left with burns on his body, neck and hands – and has been scheduled to have skin graft surgery.
Lorenzo’s mother Kourtney said her son was a ‘true survivor’ (Picture: Kourtney Pendleton/Facebook)
Kourtney said surgeons would take skin from his scalp, legs and feet for the procedure.
Lorenzo’s mother shared images on social media showing Lorenzo with severe burns across his torso – including a deep singe where the chain necklace burned his neck.
She wrote that her son was suffering ‘excruciating pain’ from the burns, and said ‘what he’s going through I would never wish on anyone’.
In a GoFundMe set up to help pay his medical bills, Kourtney said doctors expect Lorenzo to remain in hospital for at least two weeks to recover.
‘This is taking quite an emotional toll on him but he’s fighting hard like the tough, brave little boy he is — a true survivor,’ she wrote.
What is skin graft surgery?
According to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, a skin graft is a healthy piece of skin which is taken from one area of the body and placed over the affected area.
The area where the healthy skin is taken from is known as the donor site.
The graft may be held in place by stitches or surgical glue.
Skin graft surgeries are performed when damaged skin needs to be replaced – such as when you have suffered a burn, trauma or need plastic or reconstructive surgery.
Kourtney signed off the fundraiser with a warning to other parents, saying ‘this was a terrifying, freak accident that could have happened to anyone’.
More Trending
-
McDonald's manager reveals which part of Luigi Mangione she recognised to call cops
Channel: US US 3 hours ago By Barney Davis - Dad charged with torture over hike that left two children fighting for life
- Off-duty paramedic saves seven-year-old girl from raging fire
- Hunt for missing baby after mum's body was found days before she was due to give birth
She added: ‘Parents — please, please don’t let your kids sleep with electronics or charging cords on their bed. It’s not worth the risk.’
In an update to the fundraiser on November 28, Kourtney said Lorenzo’s skin graft surgery was a success, but that he was left ‘in a lot of pain’.
She said: ‘He’s fighting through every moment with so much courage.
‘This has been such a heavy and emotional journey, but he’s holding on with a strength that inspires all of us.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Arrow MORE: Toddler found trying to play with parents to wake them after they were shot dead
Arrow MORE: Inside this year’s White House Christmas decorations, from Lego to gingerbread
Arrow MORE: What is happening in Venezuela and is Trump really planning a US invasion?
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source News UpdatesStay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.
Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy
