A 17-year-old youth is in Dunedin Hospital on life support after an incident at an out-of-control party in Invercargill on Friday night.
The incident has prompted police to warn of the dangers of unsupervised parties.
The teenager sustained life-threatening burns after a party-goer threw a container of petrol over a fire inside a 44-gallon drum, beside which the victim was standing.
Emergency services were called to the address in Perth St, Richmond, shortly after 10pm, where more than 100 drunken revellers had gathered at an unsupervised party.
The victim was transferred by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter to Dunedin Hospital, where he remains on life support in a drug-induced coma.
Two of the teenager's friends, who were standing beside him at the time of the incident, escaped with minor burns to their hair, clothes and skin, Senior Sergeant Maggie Windle, of Invercargill, said.
Police had interviewed the 18-year-old who allegedly threw the petrol and several other males, and charges were likely to be laid over the incident, she said.
Police were also talking to those who lived at the house, as a sober adult should have been present to supervise partygoers.
Police would be monitoring this issue closely in the future, Snr Sgt Windle said.
Police were also concerned about the large amount of alcohol consumed before the party, with many of the teenagers interviewed revealing they had drunk between 10 and 15 RTDs (ready-to-drink pre-mixed alcohol drinks) before attending the party.
Anyone who witnessed the incident was urged to contact Invercargill police on (03) 211-0400.
