Two young boys were airlifted in a helicopter to a Boston hospital Wednesday morning after suffering severe and extensive burns from bathtub water, Lynn fire officials said.
The two brothers, an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old, sustained second-degree burns on large portions of their bodies after being badly scalded from hot water, The Boston Globe reported.
After being rushed in an ambulance from their Essex Street apartment to Lynn English High School, a MedFlight rescue helicopter was sent to take them to Massachusetts General Hospital, police told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
According to Lynn District Fire Chief Steven Archer, the victims are likely to be shifted to Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield.
The father was present on scene at the time of the incident, which occurred at 7:14 a.m., police Lt. Thomas Reddy said.
Reddy described the injuries as "serious burns" and declined to release further information pending the ongoing investigation.
"The 18-month old was burned on about 50 percent of his body, on his back, and the 3-year-old was about 80 to 85 percent on his upper torso and groin area," Archer said Wednesday morning in a telephone interview to The Boston Globe. "We classify them as second-degree."
Second-degree burns affect both the outer and underlying layer of skin, causing pain, redness, swelling and blistering. It is known to be the second-most serious type of burn, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Lynn fire officials are questioning at least one person in connection with the incident, state police said.
No names have been released and the circumstances remain under investigation.
At the scene, several people standing outside of a three-story apartment declined comment, according to BostonHerald.com. The apartment house is near the Ingalls Elementary School and the Fayette Street fire station.