Mother of three is left with horrific injuries after she was reportedly set on fire in a car before witnesses extinguished the flames – as her husband is taken into custody
- Perth’s mother suffered horrific burns
- She was seriously injured in a car fire
- Her husband has been taken into custody
A mother of three desperately ran to a creek after she was reportedly set on fire in a car in a suspected domestic violence incident.
Police say the 33-year-old woman was heard screaming from neighbors after she went up in flames near the corner of Honey Street and Mill End in Mount Helena, east Perth, on Friday evening.
She sustained burns to 40 percent of her body, including her face, arms and torso, and had attempted to run to a nearby creek before being doused with water by neighbors and first responders.
She was airlifted to hospital and is in a serious but stable condition.
Her husband, 42, suffered minor burns and was also taken to hospital but has since been released and is now in police custody to assist with investigations.
Police say the 33-year-old woman was heard screaming from neighbors after she was engulfed in flames near the corner of Honey Street and Mill End in Mount Helena, east Perth, on Friday night
The mother suffered severe burns when the car was set on fire on Friday evening
Police have not yet been able to speak to the woman given her injuries, and it is believed she recently split from her husband.
WA Police Inspector Glen Beros said the woman suffered “life-changing injuries.”
“The research is still in its infancy and as with all domestic violence investigations, they are complex and we want to go through this very thoroughly, so we are trying to collect as much information as possible,” he told reporters.
“They had a family relationship and there has been violence, so yes, we are considering family violence.
“There is no suggestion that anyone else was involved, but as part of this investigation we will be looking at incidents that may have contributed to the lead up to this, any other domestic violence incidents that may have occurred.”
He added that the situation is distressing for everyone involved.
“A young woman has significant burns on her body that will take a long time to treat and will affect her for the rest of her life,” he said.
“Members of the community immediately on scene will be affected by what they saw, as will this young lady’s family and extended families beyond.”
Police are on the scene in Mount Helena, Perth. The woman’s husband is in police custody
The couple’s three young children are cared for by their grandparents.
A neighbor said he heard a woman screaming in “great distress.”
“It was that kind of scream where someone is beside themselves,” he told the Western Australian.
“We knew something terrible had happened.”
Ten fire trucks were on scene within five minutes of the initial triple zero call and it took the crew about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze.
The investigation into the incident continues and the police have taken the car for inspection.
Detectives are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.