Fireworks: Boy, eight, almost loses sight in explosion

A dad has spoken of his shock after his son almost lost his eyesight after a firework exploded in his face.

Bradley, eight, was walking across a field with his friend when an object was allegedly thrown towards them.

Rhydian Guzvic, 41, said: "Bradley's friend picked it up, not realising what it was, and the whole thing has just gone off."

Gwent Police has appealed for information about the incident in Hengoed, Caerphilly county, on Sunday.

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He said Bradley's mum heard an explosion at about 14:00 BST.

"I think it was about 10 minutes between the sound of the explosion and somebody noticing these boys," he said.

"One of the neighbours was looking over the fence and they've seen Bradley trying to wake up his friend because they got knocked unconscious.

"They picked him up and brought him back to Bradley's mother's house and that's when they realised the extent of what's gone on."

Once the alarm was raised, the boys were taken to hospital.

Bradley suffered facial injuries after the firework exploded

The air ambulance took his friend to Bristol while Bradley was treated at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

Mr Guzvic said: "He's had CT scans, they've found shrapnel in wounds across his head and some close to his eye, so it's quite scary for everybody involved.

"He's been discharged today, he's come home with antibiotics because he's got infections in face because of what happened."

Bradley was discharged on Wednesday and is now recovering at home

He added his son was still in shock.

"I don't think it's sunk in just yet, just the extent of what's happened," he said.

"Boys like to climb trees, make dens - they have a den over at the field where all this happened.

Bradley was walking with a friend when he was injured

"I think he was very lucky, in the sense of the blast, it could have been a lot worse and with his friend - I do feel for him, and his parents."

Bradley returned home on earlier on Wednesday.

He added he understood the boys picked up a firework after a group of three teenagers threw it towards them - although this has not been confirmed by the police.

He added: "It's always the same thing every year. There's always kids getting injured by fireworks.

"They just need tighter restrictions - either you need a licence to buy them or a complete ban. There's only two ways about it."