Brave poppy-seller attacked with lit aerosol vows to become Army paramedic
A 15-YEAR-old cadet who was burned with a lit aerosol can while selling poppies laid a Remembrance Sunday wreath - then vowed to be an Army paramedic when he grows up.
Brave schoolboy Callum Watkins suffered scorching to his face and singed hair during the unprovoked ordeal as he waited for a bus near Manchester Art Gallery.
The mystery yob blasted him using an aerosol can and a cigarette lighter, which left the teenager "very upset."
However, undeterred by the horrific ordeal, Callum vowed to carry on selling poppies for the Royal British Legion and yesterday aid a wreath in Manchester city centre with his friends from the Duke of Lancaster's Cadet Regiment.
He told Manchester Evening News: "Most of my mates were surprised that I still carried on selling the poppies."
Last week, his mother Kirsty Sloan called for his culprit to be caught.
She said: "He is very upset by what has happened.
"His face is burned and he is not very well.
"We just want whoever did this caught so that Callum can put it behind him."
Yesterday thousands of people gathered gathered to pay their respects to the fallen war heroes on Remembrance Sunday, which marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War.
This year was especially poignant as it also marked 70 years since the D-Day landings and Britain's exit from Afghanistan after 13 years of fighting.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are appealing for information to identify Callum's attacker, who is described as black or Asian, 5ft 8in tall and wearing a dark hooded top.
After the suspect struck he walked away from the bus stop on George Street without saying a word.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
