told how she is praying for her son's life.

Ruth Perinchief told The Royal Gazette how her son Carlton, 37, had been airlifted for specialist treatment at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Officials from the hospital's acute burns unit last night described his condition as "critical'', following a freak accident just after midnight on Saturday.

And Mrs. Perinchief said she was "leaving it to the Lord'' as she prayed for her son's survival.

"He was flown out to Maryland on Saturday night because his condition was so serious,'' she said.

"They tell me he's doing well but I don't know too much. All I know is that they have him on a breathing machine and I think he's just about stable.'' Police have already launched an investigation and are questioning Carlton's 28-year-old girlfriend.

Early reports suggested Carlton, from Smith's Parish, may have suffered the burns after becoming embroiled in an argument with his girlfriend in the kitchen.

But Mrs. Perinchief, of Happy Valley Road in Pembroke, said: "I don't know what happened and there's only one person who can really talk about it, and that's Carlton.

"My husband and I are just leaving it to the Lord and leaving it in his hands now. Hopefully things will work out.'' Carlton, the father of an 18-month-old girl, was still clinging to life despite his horrific burns late last night.

He was treated in intensive care at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital until an airlift could be arranged to take him to the US.

Thirteen firefighters joined Police and ambulance officers at the scene of the accident at 12.01 a.m. on Saturday.

Mr. and Mrs. Perinchief were notified by Police just before 3 a.m. And they have kept their own vigil for their son ever since.

A Fire Brigade spokesman said three teams of firefighters responded to the 911 call to Carlton's home, on Crest View Road near Harrington Sound.

He added: "But there was no fire on arrival and then Police and ambulance took over.'' Police spokeswoman Evelyn James Barnett would not give details of the detectives' inquiry.

But she said officers believed Carlton suffered the burns when a gas explosion engulfed his oven in flames.

And Police already fear his condition is so serious that he could die.

"The man has since been med-evacuated to the United States as a result of his injuries, that were considered life-threatening,'' she said.

"A 28-year-old Smith's Parish woman, who was at the scene at the time of the incident, is assisting Police with their inquiries.

"It is thought the man may have been trying to light the stove in the kitchen when it blew up.''