The mother of a city schoolboy who died after sustaining horrific burns still suffers night terrors from the tragic incident.
Preston Flores, a seven-year-old pupil from The Sunnybank School, would have been 11 yesterday. His mother Luisza and his family let off balloons to remember the youngster at Hazlehead Cemetery, but she shared how she relives the devastating moment on a regular basis.
Young Preston was found on fire while playing with friends on Bedford Avenue in Aberdeen on April 18, 2014. He suffered 80% burns to his body after an incident understood to have involved a petrol can left in the back of a council van. He later died in hospital.
Miss Flores said she still can’t stop thinking about the shocking incident, and said her home is “silent” without Preston.
She said: “It’s been just awful. It’s really hard to see Preston’s pals grow up without him. I find it very difficult. I still see his friends which is great. It’s hard because they were always at the house to see him. The house was a happy place but it’s just silent now.”
Police launched an investigation into the incident, which found no criminality to be involved Miss Flores lives with her other four children but she said Preston’s bedroom is exactly the same as it was before his death.
She said: “I had a special bond with Preston.
“The family have handled their emotions in different ways. A lot of my other children often don’t show their emotions on the outside. I still have nightmares. I could tell people every detail like it was yesterday. I can even remember what clothes Preston was wearing.
“I’m still devastated. Seeing someone move around while being on fire was just a horror.
“The house, including his bedroom, has been left just the way it was. His teddies and clothes are still there, all in the same place. He woke up happy every morning but now it’s just an empty bed.”
