5-week-old baby burnt by callous smoker who tossed cigarette butt into pram

Quick-thinking Amy Harnaman from Edinburgh grabbed screaming Sophia, took off her smouldering coat and raced home to douse the wound in cold water before rushing her to hospital.

Baby Sophia was burnt after a smoker tossed a butt into her pram. Pictures: Contributed/Neil Hanna

“I just think people should be more aware of their surroundings and dispose of cigarettes properly,” added the nursery worker.

Mum and daughter were on their way back from picking up Sophia’s five-year-old sister Eilidh from Clovenstone Primary at around 3pm.

Mrs Harnaman’s sister Chloe Louise Martin was also with them when they smelt smoke as they passed a bus stop on Clovenstone Road.

Derek and Amy Harnaman with their daughter, Sophia. Picture: Neil Hanna

“My sister found a cigarette in the pram. It’d burnt right through the snowsuit thankfully not quite reaching the skin,” said sales assistant Ms Martin.

“It all happened really quickly. My sister picked her up and took her out of the suit. Then Sophia started crying because the blister started and I think that’s when it hurt her the most.”

They rushed Sophia home to douse cold water on her arm before taking her to the doctors in Sighthill and then on to the Sick Kids.

Medics treated and dressed the blister, about the size of a one penny coin, and will assess Sophia again tomorrow.

Chloe Louise Martin and her sister Amy Harnaman were coming back from the school run with 5 week old sophia in her pram. A nearby smoker thoughtlessly flicked his cigarette butt and it landed in Sophia's pram. Picture: Contributed

“You hear about things like this but you never think it’s going to happen to you,” said Ms Martin.

A post shared on Facebook warning smokers to be more careful has been shared more than 2,000 times and attracted widespread support.

“We just want to raise some awareness so that smokers can perhaps take a little more care with where they put their cigarette ends so that things like this don’t happen,” said Ms Martin.

“Eilidh can’t understand how something like this could happen. She didn’t really want to go to school or leave her sister.”

Chloe Louise Martin and her sister Amy Harnaman were coming back from the school run with 5 week old sophia in her pram. Picture: Contributed

The family have no idea whose cigarette was responsible and are convinced it was all an unfortunate accident. “There was a few people there and a bus coming towards the bus stop so we think they just flung the fag end and got on the bus,” said Ms Martin.

“I just think it’s one of the last things you think about but that’s why there’s a bin there with an ashtray on top.

“We’re not looking to put the blame on anyone. We just want to stress it was an accident and for people to be more careful and vigilant.”

andy.shipley’edinburghnews.com