Girl, 7, Suffers Third-Degree Burns After Her Dress Catches Fire From Candle Flame

A young girl was rushed to the ICU burns unit of a U.K. hospital after the dress she was wearing caught fire from a burning candle. Her loved ones are now hoping to raise funds for the treatment she needs to recover from the third-degree burns across half of her body.

"This is my beautiful niece Leela who had the horrible accident over the weekend," the child's aunt, Alison Savill, shared Thursday on Facebook as she posted the fundraiser.

Alison was there when 7-year-old Leela Savill was involved in the horrific accident that took place Sunday. Young Leela initially ran to her 12-year-old sister after her dress was set ablaze by the candle's flame. The older sister acted quickly and called out to their aunt for help, according to Yahoo News Australia.

The aunt managed to rip the burning dress off of Leela and wound up suffering severe burns herself. The child was rushed to the hospital and has been undergoing treatment.

“Since Sunday, poor Leela has been in the ICU burns unit and already had two operations ... with many more to follow, if all goes well, whatever the outcome, life will not be the same,” read the GoFundMe page set up to raise funds for Leela’s treatment.

The money would be used "to help keep the family on their feet during this time," Alison said. She also posted an update on Facebook about the burns she suffered while freeing her niece from the flaming dress.

“My hands hurt and I only have a thumb to use for typing right now but it could of [sic] been worse,” the aunt wrote.

“Just glad I was there soon enough to make a difference,” Alison added.

The family said Leela’s older sister did not suffer any physical harm but is having nightmares after the incident, Badunews reported.

The parents were left in a state of shock while Leela was lying in a hospital bed, and her mother was hardly eating, according to the message on the fundraising page.

Leela’s parents work full time, and her mother had just started a new job about three weeks before the fire-related accident.

“They don’t earn a huge amount but was enough just about to cover their bills, rent, and support their two daughters, now they are frantically [sic] worried as they know that there is a long road ahead and great uncertainty around their finances and that of being able to provide for the needs of Leela given the sad circumstances,” read the GoFundMe page. “ ... What has happened to this family is any parents’ worst nightmare.”