A girl has been left with severe burns after her macabre costume caught fire during a school celebration.
The girl, identified only as Zaira, was taking part in a performance when she was engulfed by flames in front of horrified students and teachers on Wednesday (28 October).
Terrified onlookers can be seen desperately trying to put out the fire and prevent it spreading over the rest of her body.
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The second-year high school student was wearing a “Catrina” costume – an outfit commonly worn by women and girls during Mexico’s Dia Dos Muertos [Day of the Dead].
It’s understood the garment was made from highly-flammable dried tamale leaves, which caught fire when she stood too close to the candles on the altar, as reported by Need To Know.
Shocking footage shows the children performing on stage moments before tall flames start to appear behind a girl standing at the back.
Classmates quickly whisk her off to an area next to the platform, where the flames continue to gather momentum and screams can be heard ringing out from the crowd.
Two men are seen trying to extinguish the fire with pieces of clothing, but it wasn’t until a bucket of water was thrown over her that the flames were quenched, reports say.
But the damage was already done and the girl is said to have suffered serious burns.
Zaira was taken to hospital, where family members say she is in a serious condition and requires constant medical care.
In a post on social media, her distraught relatives pleaded for help with her medical expenses.
The post reads: “Medical expenses have been very high, and my family is doing everything we can to support her through this difficult time. However, the costs continue to rise, and we need everyone’s support.”
The local education board issued a statement after the school was criticised for using open flames at an event where children were performing.
“At the same time, a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding this incident will be conducted to determine the facts, assign responsibility, and, if necessary, reinforce the measures required to further strengthen safety in schools,”
The performance, at a high school in Hidalgo, near Mexico City, was part of the country’s annual Day of the Dead festival, which sees families dress up in colourful, macabre outfits to welcome back the spirits of their loved ones.
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