Boy Scout burned at camp dies
Family and friends yesterday were mourning the death of Sean Whitley, a 17-year-old Boy Scout counselor from Marlton who died from burns sustained when another scout's stunt went awry at a camp last weekend.
Family and friends yesterday were mourning the death of Sean Whitley, a 17-year-old Boy Scout counselor from Marlton who died from burns sustained when another scout's stunt went awry at a camp last weekend.
Sunday's accident at the Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation in Waretown, Ocean County, also resulted in less serious injuries to Whitley's twin brother and a younger teen.
"Sean was a mature, funny kid who loved the friends he made in Scouting," Kevin Whitley said of his son outside the family's home last night.
The teen died Thursday at Temple University Hospital, where he had been since Sunday's accident.
The youth's mother, Laurie, said Sean had been a counselor for several summers at the Ocean County reservation where he was injured.
"He was a counselor there, and he loved it," she said.
Authorities have said Whitley received second- and third-degree burns when an 18-year-old senior staff member attempted a "ring of fire" demonstration Sunday.
Ocean County officials have said the 18-year-old, whose name has not been released, poured rubbing alcohol to make a circle on a makeshift table and ignited it.
When he thought the fire had died out, he squirted more rubbing alcohol onto the table. An ember ignited a flame, which then traveled back up the liquid and into the bottle.
The 18-year-old tossed the bottle, and flaming liquid spilled onto Whitley. The liquid also splattered onto the victim's twin, Kenneth, and a 14-year-old unidentified boy who were also watching the demonstration.
The 14-year-old, who was flown to Temple University Burn Center with Whitley, remained hospitalized yesterday.
Craig H. Shelley, scout executive of the Jersey Shore Council of Boy Scouts, last night said the hospitalized scout was "doing well."
Kenneth Whitley was treated at Southern Ocean County Hospital.
All four teens were staff members at the camp, which this week hosted 180 scouts between the ages of 11 and 17, said Shelley, whose council oversees the reservation.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this young man and our camp staff," Shelley said last night. "The safety and security of our scouts and staff is our absolute top priority, and we are working with the local authorities in relating to this tragic incident."
Shelley said the Scouts had been providing counseling to staff at the reservation this week. He said the accident took place in an area that was restricted to staff. It was not witnessed by younger scouts, he added.
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, which announced the teen's death yesterday, is conducting an investigation. No charges have been filed.
An autopsy is scheduled for today.
