Advertisement

Hairspray a possible factor in backyard fire pit accident that took life of Terrace teen

Click to play video: 'Backyard fire pit tragedy claims life of 13-year-old Terrace girl'
Backyard fire pit tragedy claims life of 13-year-old Terrace girl
A 13-year-old Terrace girl died in hospital on May 26 after suffering serious burns in a tragic accident involving her family's backyard fire pit. Aaron McArthur reports – May 30, 2018

A freak accident in Terrace, B.C. has claimed the life of a 13-year-old girl.

Grace Peerless was alone at her backyard fire pit when her hair and clothes caught fire.

Father Dennis Peerless said his youngest daughter couldn’t have fallen into the fire pit since it was raised two feet off the ground.

“It’s not a typical fire pit that you could even fall into,” he said.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

No one really knows what happened at this point, but Dennis believes it could have been an ember landing on her head with hairspray acting as an accelerant.

After arriving at Mill Memorial Hospital, Grace was transferred to BC Children’s Hospital where doctors said she had suffered second- and third-degree burns to 25 to 30 per cent of her body.

Story continues below advertisement

Her father says her injuries were serious but everyone, including her doctors, expected her to recover.

She passed away early Saturday.

“For some reason, she went into cardiac arrest,” Dennis said.

A funeral service for Grace Peerless will be held on June 5 in Terrace. A GoFundMe page has been set up in her name.

“She was a sweet, beautiful kid,” Dennis said.

— With files from Aaron McArthur

Sponsored content

AdChoices