NEWPORT-A 3-year-old Newport child is in Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville following an apparent kitchen accident Sunday that burned both the child and its mother.

According to Sgt. Armando Fontes of the Cocke County Sheriff's Office, Cathy Ball, 30, of 1860 Whitlock Road, Newport, reported that she was holding 3-year-old Amy May Ball around 6:42 p.m. Sunday when she took a plastic dish containing boiling water out of her microwave.

Ball told Fontes the child moved abruptly, causing her to drop the dish of water on both her and the child. The mother reportedly immediately removed the child's sweat pants and called 911.

Fontes reported the mother was holding the child when he arrived on scene and he administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. Fontes said the child appeared to suffer third-degree burns to her left anterior thigh, inner thigh, knee and inner calf. The mother reportedly had a first-degree burn to her abdomen.

According to Fontes, physical evidence at the scene was consistent with the mother's story. He said the clothing had consistent watermarks which confirmed the mother's story. Fontes stated,  "based on a thorough investigation this incident appears to be an accident."

The Tennessee Department of Children's Services, however, was contacted as protocol and DES worker Lynnie Vaughn assisted with the investigation.