Child, seriously burned following Chicken Broil, still recovering
The hot ashes found where Sullivan LaHuis was burned on July 23, two days after the Chicken Broil. His shoe print can be seen at lower center.
The Manchester Chicken Broil has been an iconic event in Manchester for 62 years. It has raised money across the community–for everything from an athletic field fence to library equipment and downtown Christmas decorations. This year’s proceeds are allocated to helping fund improvements at the Kingsley-Jenter House, the former funeral home now being converted to a community meeting place.
But the aftermath of this year’s Chicken Broil, unfortunately, culminated in a painful and terrifying experience for a little boy who lives nearby the Alumni Memorial Field.
Jenifer LaHuis, mother of 8-year-old Sullivan LaHuis, reported to the Mirror that two days following the Chicken Broil, her son was walking through Alumni Field with his brother. Near the entrance to the field, was some hot ash that had been left behind after the chicken grids had been cleaned.
“Although he was wearing shoes, he suffered second-degree burns, and had to go to two different hospitals for treatment,” LaHuis said. When Chelsea Hospital was unable to treat the burns, Sullivan was transferred to Mott Children’s Hospital burn unit. “He had most of the skin from his toes and the top of his right foot removed.”
His injuries were painful enough, but what has made the experience even more distressing to the LaHuis family, is that over the past two months, they have not received any word from the members of the Chicken Broil committee.
“I have had a response from the school district and they are covering some of his medical expense,” Jenifer LaHuis said. “I have never heard from any of the members of the Chicken Broil. The lack of any kind of response (or) caring from the Manchester Chicken Broil has escalated the significance of this incident. We would have appreciated an apology.”
Cherie Vannatter, Superintendent of Manchester Community Schools, said, “Our insurance company is handling this. I can verify that yes, her son did burn his feet, but at this time I have not seen any medical reports to know the extent of the injuries. The incident did take place two days after the Broil on a Saturday.”
Vannatter added, “I do not know how long the ashes stay warm; but these ashes were not from the actual charcoal cooking pits, but rather in an area where the grates were cleaned (after the event).”
Mike Tindall, co-chair of the Manchester Chicken Broil, also responded that he was aware of the incident, and it has been turned over to the Chicken Broil’s insurance company. He added that he has been in contact with the school and its insurance company, since the Chicken Broil is held on school property.
LaHuis is still extremely upset by the incident. “I find it unfathomable that not one person (from the Chicken Broil) has attempted to contact me,” she said. “I feel that everyone should be aware of what happened to my family and my child.”
The site where Sullivan LaHuis was burned is just inside the gate of Alumni Memorial Field.
Sullivan’s second degree burns were painful and required extensive treatment.
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