Seventeen-year-old Alecia King, who was set ablaze as she slept at home last Thursday, August 24, is to depart the island later today for medical treatment at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas.

Robert White, managing director of Sanmerna Paper Products Ltd and the director of Sanmerna Foundation, told Our Today that a medical team from the United States arrived today at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) to transport the burn victim to the Norman Manley International Airport.

“The air ambulance has arrived for Alicia King, so we just arrived here with the medical team from the United States at the University Hospital, there burn unit to pick up Alicia and take her back to the Norman Manley [International] Aiport where she will be boarding a air ambulance to leave to Texas,” White said.

Reports are that King was set ablaze in her sleep in Linstead, St Catherine. She was later taken to the UHWI, where she was admitted in critical condition.

Allegations are that the teen was set ablaze by her 18 year-old ex-boyfriend. The police have since listed the ex-lover as a person of interest in relation to the incident.

The director of the Sanmerna Foundation is urging Jamiacans to walk away from disputes such as domestic violence.

“Everyone would know the cause of Alecia getting burned is because of domestic violence and I ask everyone, if you see where you are going to fight and get introuble, just walk way. It’s the best thing, I am asking you to just walk away and save your life as well as saving the life of someone else, because today here we are Alecia fighting for her life. She is 17 year old, she has a bright future ahead of her and this is the outcome the cause of domestic violence,” he warned.

The Sanmerna Foundation Ltd has been mobilising support to assist the burn victim get the required medical care overseas.