10-year-old at risk of going blind in one eye after firecracker incident

KUANTAN (Bernama): A ten-year-old boy at risk of going blind in one eye after a ball firecracker explosion incident at Tanjung Batu, Pekan, Saturday (June 1), says he regrets his actions.

Muhammad Isyraf Firdaus’s regrets were conveyed by his father, Zulrisam Kadri, 43, who said the elder of two siblings has promised never to play with firecrackers again.

Zulrisam said although he was sad over the tragic incident, he must not be too emotional as he had to stay positive to give encouragement to his son, who is fondly known as "Yah".

"I am sad, especially when I got to know that his eye might not be saved but I must be strong, My child needs encouragement from me and my wife to recover.

"Yah went through three hours of surgery Sunday (June 2) to remove tissues from the damaged cornea and other procedures,” he told reporters when met at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) Hospital here Monday (June 3).

Muhammad Isyraf was injured when playing with firecrackers at 6.30pm Saturday. It is understood that he had checked to see why the firecracker did not explode, when it ignited and fragments of the casing hit his eye.

He was immediately taken to Pekan Hospital before being transferred to HTAA Sunday.

"Yah bought the firecrackers secretly because he knows I will not allow him to play with it. He probably used the money I gave him before this to buy food for breaking fast,” Zulrisam said.

He added that the incident took place at a playground about 30m from their house. - Bernama