Friend tells of moment Claudia Winkleman's daughter caught fire wearing Halloween witch costume

 
Costume caught fire: Matilda Winkleman
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Miranda Bryant5 November 2014

A friend of Claudia Winkleman’s daughter has told of the horrific moment the eight-year-old’s Halloween costume caught fire.

Matilda Thykier suffered serious burns while she was out trick or treating on Friday in Connaught Square in west London.

Neighbours said the cape of the youngster’s witch outfit “went up like a fireball” after she brushed against some candles in a pumpkin.

Zoya Bacolv, seven, was out with a group of people, including her two sisters Isla, five, and Laila, eight, when the accident happened.

Halloween horror: The presenter's daughter was set alight in her witch outfit

She said: “Her cape caught fire, I think she was dressed as a witch. I think it was a candle that set her cape on fire. I saw her when the ambulance came, they had to wrap her up to put out the fire. She burnt her leg. They put her in a cast thing and put lots of plasters on her leg. She’s going to be in hospital for a week. It was really scary.”

Strictly Come Dancing presenter Winkleman has spent the past four days at her little girl’s bedside. Zoya’s mother Evelyn, 34, said: “I only know from what I have heard from my daughters, but I have heard Matilda has been seriously injured. I’m not sure exactly where it happened because they didn’t see Matilda when the cape caught fire, only when the ambulance arrived. Matilda was out with another group. It is worrying.”

Celebrities tweeted their support to the family, with Strictly contestant singer Pixie Lott writing “Hope you’re ok Claud xx”

Winkleman, 42, who was absent from last weekend’s Strictly show because she was caring for Matilda, and her husband Kris Thykier, 42, founder of production company Archery Pictures, said in a statement: “Our daughter was involved in an accident on Friday night while celebrating Halloween. She is having the best care possible and we are hopeful of a full recovery.

“We would like to thank everyone that has been so supportive and particularly the NHS doctors, nurses and staff.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind anyone taking part in fireworks parties or Guy Fawkes celebrations to be vigilant about the dangers of candles, open fires and fireworks and to please have the appropriate safety measures in place and to hand.”

According to a neighbour, who did not wish to be named, the party had just embarked on the trip when the accident occurred. Winkleman is believed to have been nearby.

The neighbour said: “Apparently there were candles outside [the house] and you know how all these costumes are made of highly flammable material. The poor girl’s dress literally went up in a fireball and somebody tried to put it out. They pushed her to the ground and sort of rolled her over and tried to put it out but by that time she had got burnt on her fingers and her arm. His [the man who tried to help] fingers got burnt as well.”

A London Ambulance spokesman said Matilda was taken to hospital “as a priority”.

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