A boy from Bromley has been left with permanent scars after being burnt by scalding water from a broken shower

Iyanu Stephens, six, was left with severe burns to his neck and chest after boiling water from a broken shower sprayed him before going to bed.

His mother, Julia Stephens, 39, recounted the incident saying: “I just turned my back for a moment when I heard Iyanu scream. There were jets of steam coming from the shower nozzle

“I could see straightaway that that he was quite badly burnt. His skin almost immediately began to go red and blotchy.

“I’m first aid trained so I know how to treat burns. I put him under cold water straight away and covered the wound and took him to hospital.

“Had I not been within earshot of Iyanu and treated the wounds so quickly I think it would have been far worse.”

Iyanu's injuries 

The catastrophic event occurred after Ms Stephens complained to her housing authority in March 2013 that her shower was suddenly going cold.

The fault was identified as a broken thermostat and was changed.

But within a few days the shower was playing up again, this time the water suddenly going hot.

After the incident the shower was sent to manufacturers Triton.

She called on them to carry out a full investigation to ensure no one else is injured.

They admitted liability, and Ms Stephens instructed law firm Slater and Gordon to launch legal action.

Yet it transpired that Triton has now lost the faulty shower, and cannot diagnose what the problem was.

MORE TOP STORIES Ms Stephens, a self-employed dressmaker, said: “When I heard that I was quite angry. This is really serious.

“The manufacturer needs to establish what went wrong and if other showers have the same fault.

“Losing it is totally unacceptable and they need to carry out a thorough investigation.”

Lawyer Sarah Davidson, of Slater and Gordon, said: “This is an alarming incident. Iyanu, who was only five years old at the time, was left with quite serious burns to his chest, which required hospital treatment and time off school.

“Had Julia not acted so quickly, and been well trained in first aid and treating burns, the consequences of this could have been even worse.

Iyanu has been left with permanent scarring 

“Had the shower been in the home of an elderly or vulnerable person the injuries could have had very serious consequences.

“It is vital that the manufacturer finds out what went wrong with this shower and ensure anyone who may be affected by the fault is alerted to the danger.

“Carrying out a proper investigation may be hampered since the manufacturer has lost the shower in this case.”

Triton has been contacted for a comment.