The infant had been happily playing with a toy truck at a picnic in a park near Brisbane, Australia, when a stranger poured a Thermos of coffee over him and ran away
Photos show the moments after a nine-month-old baby had boiling coffee poured over him by a stranger in an incident which left him with horrific burns across his body.
The infant was with his mum and friends at a picnic at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo, Brisbane, when the man approached the group before pouring the Thermos of him and fled. Police are continuing to hunt the man, who they was was unknown to the group.
Pictures taken just seconds before show the youngster happily enjoying the picnic and playing with a toy truck, while chilling images taken afterwards show him swaddled in bandages and crying in pain. His mum says she was left traumatised by the incident on Tuesday, saying “I couldn’t protect him”.
Friends said the distraught and frantic mum had yelled “my baby, my baby”, describing the incident as a “callous, random attack” on a baby who “does not deserve this pain and suffering”.
Reliving her ordeal, the mother told Nine News: “I’m just having flashbacks all the time about what happened and I wish that he had poured the coffee over me. I don’t know who would think it is okay to harm a little, innocent baby.”
The infant was rushed to hospital and has been treated for burns to 60% of his body. Disturbing footage shows him screaming in pain in hospital, where medics wrapped him in cling film to prevent infections.
Queensland Police have meanwhile released CCTV of the man shortly after the attack. The man, dressed in what appears to be a check flannel shirt jack, brown shorts and a black baseball cap and described by police as aged between 30-40, was seen running from the scene moments after.
A police spokesperson said: “Initial investigations indicate a 9-month-old baby boy was with family at Hanlon Park around midday, when a man not known to the group approached them and poured a hot liquid onto the child, before leaving the scene.
“Emergency crews were called, and the young boy was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The Child Protection and Investigation Unit is investigating.”
Friend Zara Mazza has since set up a GoFundMe for the youngster’s treatment, as well as household costs to ease pressure on the family. “He has a long recovery ahead of him which will include further doctors, specialists, hospital appointments,” the friend wrote. The page had already raised nearly $30,000 (£15,300) by Wednesday afternoon UK time.