A 10-year-old girl has become a hero overnight, after saving a baby from being burnt during a fireworks display in Christchurch.
The fireworks display was organised by City Church on Manchester Street last night.
Several people were injured at what was supposed to be a family-friendly event.
NZ Herald spoke to Cory Sutherland, a witness at the event.
Sutherland said the event turned horrible after the fireworks were misfired into a crowd of families.
While Sutherland was giving first aid he saw the 10-year-old girl, named Britney, who had received burns to her leg after protecting the baby.
The City Church posted to Facebook to apologise about the event.
“During the course of this evening’s event something went wrong with the fireworks,” it read.
“In the interest of public safety the event was immediately stopped and we are investigating what went wrong. We apologise to everyone, especially those who were hurt.”
The parents of one of the children injured at the event have commented on the post.
“Our little fella is okay and was a trooper throughout the ordeal,” it wrote.
The parents also defended City Church Christchurch after someone said the church wasn’t concerned about the safety of others.
Tips to ensure safety around fireworks
• Store and carry your fireworks safely. Keep them out of the reach of young children in a sealed box or bag until you are ready to let them off. Keep them away from heat and flames.
• Read the instructions for lighting your fireworks when you get them, and again just before you set them off. Make sure you have a good source of light to read them with, such as a torch, not a naked flame.
• Choose a safe place. Make sure there is plenty of open space and fireworks are away from buildings, outdoor furniture, vehicles, dry grass or anything that could catch fire.
• Think twice about letting off fireworks if it is windy.
• Have a hose, bucket of water or fire extinguisher handy in case of fire.
• Make sure animals are kept inside. Visit them frequently to comfort them if they need it. Leaving the TV or music on can help to drown out the noise of the fireworks. Let neighbours with pets know if you are planning a fireworks party.
