Dashing in from the cold, I took off my coat and closed the door behind me. I'm back, I called to my husband Richard, then 33. It was February 2023 and I'd just dropped our daughter April, then six, at school. Slipping off my boots, I was greeted by Richard and our youngest, Luke, then 21 months, who welcomed me with a grin and cuddle. I've only been gone a few minutes, I laughed, cuddling him back.
As he toddled after me, giggling, I headed for the kitchen. Fancy a cup of tea?" I asked Richard, who was working as an IT technician from home in the living room. Clinking two mugs on the kitchen counter, I boiled the kettle as Luke played across the room. I grabbed two teabags and dropped them in each mug, before pouring in the steaming water. Then, as I turned my back to get the milk from the fridge, Luke appeared at my feet and, before I could react, reached up and grabbed one of the mug handles.
'Stop!' I cried, jerking to pull him away, but it was too late. His little fingers looped around the handle and the mug tipped. The second the scalding water touched his skin he let out an agonising scream, and so did I. The boiling water had gushed on to my baby's neck, shoulder and chest.
Richard rushed in to see what was going on. I scooped Luke up and instinctively ran the kitchen tap, splashing his red, hot skin with cold water.
'It happened so fast,' I screamed to Richard. All the while, my baby boy was hysterical, writhing in pain. 'We need to get him under the shower," I said, as Richard grabbed him and ran as fast as he could upstairs, with me close behind.
I ran the cold water in the shower and sat Luke beneath it. He sobbed in agony.
Denne historien er fra March 02, 2024-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
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Denne historien er fra March 02, 2024-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS
Filling family meals to save you time and money
ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?
Keen to know if the workouts she sees online can actually make her fitter, Rachel Tompkins, 44, gives them a try
GO OUT OF SEASON
While some European cities seem to go into hibernation over winter, others just get better in the colder months
MY LIFE IN MUSIC
Monica Cafferky, 55, reveals how certain tunes bring back special memories
THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
After trying diets without success, Breanne Concannon, 31, was left feeling hopeless
MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG
For Trish Hughes, 44, the thrills of being married to a man 20 years younger is worth all the judgement
'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'
Lying in the hospital bed, my husband Michael had tears of happiness in his eyes as he showed me a photo on his phone. 'Here she is,' he said proudly. 'This is our beautiful baby girl.'I stared at the photo and shook my head. 'No, that's not my baby,' I said. 'There must be a mistake.'It was August 2010 and I'd not long before had an emergency caesarean. I'd not had a chance to see Winnie when she arrived as she'd been whisked away for tests because she was nearly two months premature.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Hayley, 45, has her son to thank for crucial evidence
'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'
Loose Women's Linda Robson on the daytime show, dating and her next career move
Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE
We take a look at the power couple's posh pads
