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害羞草研究所檚 Grace Peerless passed away at the B.C. Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital at 1 a.m. May 26.
Grace害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 clothing with hairspray acting as an accelerant.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 from the north 害羞草研究所� she害羞草研究所檚 been around fire her whole life. She害羞草研究所檚 a scout. She wouldn害羞草研究所檛 just fall in,害羞草研究所� Lynn said.
Lynn had heard her daughter害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 Mills Memorial Hospital to B.C. Children害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 likelihood of survival was as high as 95 per cent but complications quickly escalated and Grace passed away within 36 hours of the accident.
害羞草研究所淓veryone is stunned. I mean the doctors don害羞草研究所檛 even understand why,害羞草研究所� said Lynn. 害羞草研究所淚 was ready to help her through a very long recovery害羞草研究所t least she would be alive.害羞草研究所�
The BC Coroners Service can only confirm a Terrace female in her early teens was airlifted to the B.C. Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital in Vancouver May 24 and pronounced deceased May 26. No other information is available until the coroner害羞草研究所檚 investigation is complete.
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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害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing how many people are coming forward, and I害羞草研究所檓 learning just how many people害羞草研究所檚 lives she touched,害羞草研究所� Lynn said. 害羞草研究所淪he was a true floater, someone who could drift through every crowd. It didn害羞草研究所檛 matter if your family was on welfare or you were the richest kid in school, she害羞草研究所檇 treat you the same.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淥ur staff and students share a heartfelt sadness around the loss of this young life,害羞草研究所� she said in an email. 害羞草研究所淎t times like this, as everyone else in our community, our hearts go out to the family and relatives.害羞草研究所�
A celebration of life has been planned for Tuesday, June 5 at 4 p.m at Terrace害羞草研究所檚 the REM Lee Theater. A reception will follow.
The family says they害羞草研究所檝e incurred close to $10,000 in expenses for travel and funeral arrangements, for which a
quinn@terracestandard.com
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