Boy suffers severe burns as treatment costs overwhelm poor family

Tao Van Ut Nam, a nine-year-old boy from the Lu ethnic minority in Lai Chau Province, suffered burns to 30 per cent of his body after being electrocuted while fishing near his home in January.

The accident happened when Nam’s fishing rod accidentally touched a high-voltage power line. Within seconds, electricity surged through the rod, leaving the boy with severe burns across much of his body.

Due to the seriousness of his injuries, Nam was transferred to the National Burn Hospital in Hanoi for specialised treatment.

His father, Tao Van Keo, 40, said that after nearly two months of treatment, the family had spent more than VND 130 million (approximately USD 5,000), far beyond their financial means.

“We have no money left and had to borrow from everywhere. Nam was treated for nearly two months at the National Burn Hospital and has now returned home, but his wounds have not healed. Every month, we still have to travel to Hanoi for further treatment,” Keo said.

Keo and his wife, Phan Thi Tinh, 37, have four young children. The family depends entirely on farming and unstable temporary jobs for income.

Besides working in the fields, Tinh also weaves cloth and collects recyclable waste, but the income is modest and the family has struggled financially for years.

Nam’s accident came as a devastating shock, pushing the household deeper into debt. Keo said he had borrowed money from relatives, neighbours and banks, exhausting every possible source.

“Our debts are already too high, but my son still needs long-term treatment. Every trip to Hanoi means another major expense. We truly do not know how to manage anymore,” he said.

According to Tao Thi Chum, vice chair of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Nam Tam Commune, the family has been classified as near-poor for many years and has no stable source of income.

After the accident, local authorities raised around VND 70 million (approximately USD 2,700) in support, but she said the amount was still far from enough compared with the boy’s ongoing treatment costs.

“We hope Dantri readers and kind-hearted donors can help so Nam can continue treatment and recover soon,” the commune representative said.

Before the accident, Nam was described as an active child who enjoyed going to school and often helped his parents with light household tasks.

The sudden incident forced him to pause his studies and endure constant pain. Burn scars and skin contractures have also affected both his daily life and his confidence.

Even so, the boy still hopes to return to school soon.

“I want to get better quickly so I can go back to school with my friends,” he said softly.