A disabled Swansea City fan has suffered first degree burns while exiting an away game when a flare was lit in the crowd.
Callum Williams, 17, was leaving the Hawthorns stadium alongside his friends and fellow Swansea FC fans when one individual lit the flare just a few meters from his right hand, before throwing it.
He has been left "gutted by the moment of stupidity from a selfish fan", and warned it could have been far worse.
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Callum, a double amputee since the age of 11 as a result of operations to treat clubbed foot, has been a season ticket holder for six years - regularly attending away games with his group of friends who have been "jacks for life". He had just watched Swansea City beat West Brom 2-0 at the Hawthorns Stadium when he was hurt.
The Pontarddulais teenager said he was in incredible discomfort when he was dropped off at a service station and taken by family to Llanelli hospital.
Callum was told he would have to spend several weeks in a cast which would have to be regularly changed, meaning he would need to spend every day of the next week receiving treatment. The 17-year-old was also told he would have to wear sun lotion on his hand in future whenever in direct sunlight.
"Wherever the Swans go, he goes. He has a good set of friends around him who go with him but he's been left anxious and will keep looking over his shoulders," said his mum, Diane Williams.
"It's left him upset about the situation, he can't play at an upcoming basketball match. He loves his sport"
Callum, a talented wheelchair basketball player for Swansea Storm and Wales, said he had been left "gutted and lost" as a result of the severe burns which prevented him from playing his sport for "several weeks".
"I just don't really know when I'm going to be able to play again, we have big games coming up and I'm upset that I'm not going to be able to play in them, it's changed my life and I have to wear sun lotion permanently now in the summer."
He has pleaded with other supporters to be more cautious at away games following an increasing appearance of flares.
"Flares never used to be an issue in away games before but they're getting more common and it's stupid that he's chucked it, there were kids there and what if it hit someone or burnt one of their hands, it's selfish.
"I just want people to be aware that these things are dangerous, I'm gutted that I can't play basketball but people don't recognise the dangers of these things, it's only going to get worse before someone stops it" he said.
It's understood the incident is being investigated by West Midlands Police.
WalesOnline has approached Swansea FC, West Bromwich Albion FC and West Midlands Police for comment.
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