NZ woman catches fire during caesarian birth

A woman caught fire while giving birth in a New Zealand hospital, suffering burns to her lower body as doctors saved the baby…

A woman caught fire while giving birth in a New Zealand hospital, suffering burns to her lower body as doctors saved the baby with a rapid caesarian delivery.

Investigators believe an alcohol-based swabbing solution - used to sterilise parts of the

body - may have accidentally ignited.

Staff in the Auckland hospital are believed to have smothered the fire on the woman, who was anaesthetised with an epidural. Medical specialists then performed the caesarian immediately.

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The hospital said a swabbing solution that was 70 per cent alcohol was used in accordance with standard procedure. It was now using a non-flammable, iodine-based solution until an investigation is over. AFP