Boy, 5, dies after suffering horror burns in motorbike fire as dad still in coma
A five-year-old boy who was engulfed in flames after his mini-motorcycle caught fire has died in hospital.
And Max Knight’s dad Harley is not even aware of the tragedy yet – because he is still in a coma himself as a result of the injuries which he suffered.
Max’s grandfather Tennocy Knight said the youngster was riding his Yamaha Peewee 50 outside the family’s home in Murphy’s Creek Road, three miles north-east of the town of Toowoomba in Queensland, on Sunday – Father’s Day in Australia.
The fire erupted when Harley Knight went to refill the bike’s fuel tank, possibly as a result of the heat of the engine.
As a result, Max sustained burns to 90 percent of his body, dying at Queensland Children’s Hospital, where he was taken by air helicopter, at 7am the next day.
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Tennocy Knight told The Courier Mail newspaper: “Max was a good little kid.
“He lived life to the fullest, like his father. It has been a really tough day for us and we are just trying to cope with the loss.
“The hardest thing for us as a family was to sit there beside his bed and do nothing.
‘Motorbikes were their life, they loved riding together and they loved fishing too.”
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Harley Knight also sustained burns to 40 percent of his body, mainly on his face, chest and arms.
He was initially treated at Toowoomba Hospital, before being flown to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he has been placed in a medically induced coma.
Tennocy Knight said he will not be woken until Thursday at the earliest, adding: “He does not even know Max has passed away.”
Max’s mother Emma Whybird posted a series of tributes to her son on Facebook in which she revealed she had held him as he died.
She wrote: ‘My beautiful baby boy, I’m going to miss your beautiful smile, your precious hugs, your kisses good night, your warm touch.
‘It’s never going to be the same without you Max. My heart aches so much not cuddling you to sleep and reading you your favourite books.”
Ms Whybird added: “I wish you could come back to me my precious boy. Max, you will always be in Mummy and Daddy’s life forever.
“We love you so much my darling little Max, the Knight rider.”
Police in Queensland will now prepare a report for the coroner with an inquest scheduled.
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