Elian Flores spent more than a week receiving specialized burn treatment after the Sept. 7 accident at his Lake Worth home.
LAKE WORTH, Fla. — A 7-year-old boy is recovering at home after suffering severe burns when a household “science experiment” he was conducting with his older brother caught fire, sending him to a South Florida trauma center for more than a week of treatment.
Elian Flores and his 11-year-old brother, Benji, were experimenting in a bathroom at their Lake Worth home on the night of Sept. 7 when the accident happened, according to the family and local news reports. The boys had mixed hand sanitizer, soap and rubbing alcohol before a lighter was introduced. Elian’s shirt then caught fire. His brother quickly moved him into the shower to extinguish the flames as other family members woke to the commotion and called for emergency help.
Elian was initially taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center before being transferred that night to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for specialized pediatric burn care, according to a fundraiser organized by family member Daasha Ferguson. The family initially reported that second-degree burns covered approximately 19% of his body. An earlier local report described burns over more than 20% of his body, while later family updates said doctors found some injuries were deeper than first believed.
The family said the injuries affected several areas of Elian’s body, including his face, right arm, hand and fingers. During his hospitalization, he received extensive wound care, dressing changes, physical therapy, eye evaluations, pain treatment and psychological support. Ferguson said in a Sept. 15 update that Elian had moved out of the pediatric intensive care unit as his condition improved.
Family members described a difficult hospital stay as doctors repeatedly treated and evaluated the burns. Ferguson said physicians at one point sedated and intubated Elian so they could properly examine and care for deeper injuries. The family later said some burns were classified as third-degree. Elian remained hospitalized for more than a week before doctors cleared him to return home.
Local 10 reported that emergency responders were only minutes away when the 911 call came in. The station interviewed members of Elian’s family after his hospitalization and reported that he had been discharged from Ryder Trauma Center. His family said he is expected to make a full recovery, although significant physical therapy and additional treatment remain ahead.
The family has credited Elian’s brother with acting quickly when the fire started. According to Ferguson’s account, Benji immediately got his younger brother into the shower to extinguish the burning clothing. BocaNewsNow reported that another family member awakened by the commotion called 911 and that Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded late that night.
Elian is the youngest of seven boys, according to Ferguson. After his discharge, he returned home to his six older brothers and other relatives. The family said being home marked an important point in his recovery but did not mean his medical care was finished. Follow-up treatment could include continued wound care, physical and occupational therapy, medications and specialist appointments.
A fundraiser organized on Elian’s behalf is intended to help the family with medical care, supplies and longer-term therapy. Local 10 reported that while still hospitalized, Elian recorded a short message thanking those who had supported him. His relatives have continued providing updates about his recovery since the accident.
No information in the reports reviewed indicated that authorities were treating the fire as an intentional act. The available accounts describe it as an accident during the children’s experiment. Elian remained home with his family in the latest updates as he continued recovering and preparing for further therapy and medical follow-up.