Muscat: Two small Jordanian children, who got severe burns after their car parked at a petrol station caught fire, were playing with a lighter, their father confirmed to Gulf News on Saturday.
The man had left the children unattended in the car while he went to buy some items from the nearby grocery store.
Mohammad Sulaimain said he left the lighter in the front seat and his children were playing with it, which sparked the fire.
“It was my mistake. I should have taken the lighter with me,” he said.
The children are still recovering from the burns.
Four-year-old Ghazl sustained 70 per cent burns, while her three-year-old brother, Sulaiman, suffered 30 per cent burns.
They are currently at the burn unit in Khoula Hospital in Muscat.
Mohammad, 33, said Sulaiman has shown some signs of improvement but Ghazl remains in critical condition.
“Ghazl opened her eyes for a while when medics removed the bandage on Wednesday but has not opened them since then,” said the distraught father.
“I believe that my sweet Ghazl has the courage and determination to battle for her life,” said Mohammad.
He gave an emotional interview to Gulf News when the tragedy happened saying he could never forgive himself for what happened.
An Omani national, Mohammad Al Hashemi, rescued the children when he heard their screams in the car.
Omanis have launched a campaign on social media to raise money for the children’s medical bills.
