Boy Scout burned at camp dies

TOMS RIVER, N.J., July 11 (UPI) -- A New Jersey teenager who suffered critical burns during a "ring of fire" demonstration at a Boy Scout camp has died.

Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford announced the death of Sean Whitley Friday, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported. Whitley, 17, died Thursday at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Michael Mohel, a spokesman for the prosecutor, said Whitley was burned Sunday at a Scout camp in Waretown when an 18-year-old staffer showed three other Scouts the "ring of fire." Mohel said the demonstration was not an authorized Scout activity.

The 18-year-old, whose name has not been released, set a ring of rubbing alcohol on fire, Mohel said. When he poured more alcohol, an ember lit the liquid and fire went up the stream to the bottle. The 18-year-old threw the bottle, accidentally burning the other three.

A 17-year-old was treated and released at a local hospital, while a 14-year-old was in critical but stable condition in the burn unit at Temple.