A B.C. community is grieving the tragic death of a 13-year old girl who succumbed to complications from burns received at a backyard campfire.
Terrace含羞草研究社檚 Grace Peerless passed away at the B.C. Children含羞草研究社檚 Hospital at 1 a.m. May 26.
Grace含羞草研究社檚 mother, Lynn Peerless, said the family may never know how the flames reached her daughter, only that she was alone at the fire pit around 9 p.m., May 24, when her hair and clothes caught fire. Lynn believes a hot ember landed on her daughter含羞草研究社檚 clothing with hairspray acting as an accelerant.
含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檚 from the north 含羞草研究社� she含羞草研究社檚 been around fire her whole life. She含羞草研究社檚 a scout. She wouldn含羞草研究社檛 just fall in,含羞草研究社� Lynn said.
Lynn had heard her daughter含羞草研究社檚 screams then found her consumed in flames near the fire pit, she said. She yelled at Grace to stop, drop and roll while her 17-year-old son used a garden hose to douse the flames.
Grace was airlifted from Terrace含羞草研究社檚 Mills Memorial Hospital to B.C. Children含羞草研究社檚 Hospital in Vancouver where she was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. According to the family Grace suffered mostly second-degree burns to 30 per cent of her upper body. Doctors told the family Grace含羞草研究社檚 likelihood of survival was as high as 95 per cent but complications quickly escalated and Grace passed away within 36 hours of the accident.
含羞草研究社淓veryone is stunned. I mean the doctors don含羞草研究社檛 even understand why,含羞草研究社� said Lynn. 含羞草研究社淚 was ready to help her through a very long recovery含羞草研究社t least she would be alive.含羞草研究社�
The BC Coroners Service can only confirm a Terrace female in her early teens was airlifted to the B.C. Children含羞草研究社檚 Hospital in Vancouver May 24 and pronounced deceased May 26. No other information is available until the coroner含羞草研究社檚 investigation is complete.
READ MORE:
The Peerless family was told today, May 29, it could take longer than a year to receive the report that may explain the complications leading to Grace含羞草研究社檚 death, and perhaps how the flames ignited in her hair and clothing in the first place.
As condolences spread to the family through social media, Grace was remembered as a consummate storyteller, a happy teenager and an adventurous scout.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 amazing how many people are coming forward, and I含羞草研究社檓 learning just how many people含羞草研究社檚 lives she touched,含羞草研究社� Lynn said. 含羞草研究社淪he was a true floater, someone who could drift through every crowd. It didn含羞草研究社檛 matter if your family was on welfare or you were the richest kid in school, she含羞草研究社檇 treat you the same.含羞草研究社�
On Monday morning at the doors to Skeena Middle School, where Grace was a student, a makeshift memorial had sprung up as people dropped off flowers and notes.
School District 82 Superintendent of Schools, Katherine McIntosh, said resources were available to help everyone at the school move through the difficult time.
含羞草研究社淥ur staff and students share a heartfelt sadness around the loss of this young life,含羞草研究社� she said in an email. 含羞草研究社淎t times like this, as everyone else in our community, our hearts go out to the family and relatives.含羞草研究社�
A celebration of life has been planned for Tuesday, June 5 at 4 p.m at Terrace含羞草研究社檚 the REM Lee Theater. A reception will follow.
The family says they含羞草研究社檝e incurred close to $10,000 in expenses for travel and funeral arrangements, for which a
quinn@terracestandard.com
Like us on and follow us on
