‘Screaming’ boy, 11, saved by heroic group of fathers after he was trapped in burning storage container – as teen, 13, is arrested over ‘attempted murder’

A screaming 11-year-old boy was saved by a group of heroic fathers after he was trapped in a burning storage container at a rugby club. 

The fathers – who were drinking in the club’s beer garden – climbed on top of the flaming container and helped him out through a small window after a mother heard him wailing. 

A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and arson after the younger child was found badly burnt. 

The boy was rushed to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, South Wales, where he remains in a stable condition following the alleged attack last weekend. 

Lyn Davies, the secretary of Trimsaran RFC, near Kidwelly in Carmarthenshire, said the woman heard the commotion and went to investigate. 

She said: ‘That’s when she saw that the little boy was stuck. He had his head out of a very small window but he couldn’t get out.’

Ms Davies said the boy ‘wouldn’t have lived’ if it wasn’t for the bravery of the dads.

‘There was absolutely no way that he could get out on his own,’ she said.

‘The fire was behind him, which blocked the door. The little open window was the only thing that was available to get him out. Without the help of being physically pulled up from above, he wouldn’t have been able to get out.

‘He’d managed to pull his head out, but he was screaming and he was absolutely petrified. Obviously he was in pain because he was getting burned. They definitely saved his life.

‘They’re all fathers with children of their own, some of them have grandchildren.

‘It didn’t bare thinking about letting him stay there.’

Dyfed-Powys Police said the storage container is believed to have been set on fire deliberately on Saturday afternoon.  

The 13-year-old has been released on bail while investigations continue.

The village club of Trimsaran is best known for being the home club of rugby legend and BBC commentator Jonathan Davies.

Fire crews were called to the ground at around 6.15pm as dark plumes of smoke rose from the container.

In a statement, Trimsaran RFC said: ‘I’m sure that a lot of people are aware that there was an issue on our fields on Saturday afternoon where one of our storage containers were set on fire causing a lot of damage to our equipment [sic].

‘The main thing is that a young boy was trapped inside and only got out due to the heroism of some of our club members.’

The club thanked its members and the emergency services for their work in responding to the blaze.

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: ‘Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of a fire at Trimsaran Rugby Club on Saturday, May 23 at around 6.15pm.

‘A container was allegedly set alight deliberately, causing extensive damage to the container and its contents. An 11-year-old boy suffered serious injuries during the incident and remains in a stable condition in hospital.

‘A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson and attempted murder. They have been released on conditional bail. The investigation is ongoing.’

A spokesman for Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘At 6.15pm on Saturday, May 23, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Llanelli, Pont-iets and Kidwelly Fire Stations were mobilised to an incident at Trimsaran Rugby Social Club.

‘The crews responded to a fire involving one shipping container used for storage. The crews utilised two breathing apparatus sets, two hose reel jets, e-draulic spreaders, ladders and thermal imaging cameras to extinguish the fire. The fire had spread to a neighbouring property and affected its roof space.

‘The fire is believed to have been started deliberately.

‘The crew left the scene at 7.56pm.’