November 5th 2023.
Emma Redley, 40, and her young son Rocco were looking forward to a fireworks display on Friday night at Stone Swynnerton Park Cricket Club in Staffordshire. Little did they know, a rocket misfired into the crowd and struck Rocco in the face.
The incident left the 5-year-old boy bleeding from his chin and at least six other people injured. Emma heard her son screaming and rushed him to the first aid tent.
“Rocco wasn’t majorly physically injured in the end, but he was terrified,” Emma said. “It’s the first display I’ve ever taken him to and he’s told me now he never wants to see a firework again. I keep reliving the moment, it was terrifying. I see it back in slow motion but it all happened so fast. The worst thing is thinking that it could have been so much worse.”
The night was traumatic for the 3,000 attendees, and it’s believed other children were among those injured. The firework display was paused to make an announcement requesting first aid, and half the crowd walked out in shock. When the display resumed, Rocco went into shock.
“He was absolutely terrified. He went as white as a sheet and went into shock,” Emma said. “That night he was scared to sleep because he could hear more fireworks outside. His physical injuries are ok but the mental scarring will stick with him. What makes it so scary is that it could have gone so much worse. Just because nobody was seriously injured doesn’t make it ok.”
Both Stone Swynnerton Park Cricket Club and firework managers Monumental Fireworks refused to comment when approached on Saturday.
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