A 12-year-old boy from Tifton, Georgia, is recovering from second-degree burns after a sleepover prank went horribly wrong, the New York Post reported.
The boy was asleep at a neighbour’s home when his friends allegedly poured scalding water on his face, causing severe injuries.
The incident happened while the boy was asleep, and three other boys, aged 12 to 15, were playing video games, said his mother, Tiffany West. She told WALB that one of the boys thought it would be “funny” to pour hot water on him. The boy was taken to a burn centre in Augusta for surgery and is now recovering at home.
The three boys involved were arrested but later released to their families. They are awaiting court hearings next month.
West expressed her anguish, saying, “I mean, I really can’t describe it now. In that moment I was just mad, hurt, in shock. Everything, I was seeing red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him some help.”
The boy’s aunt, Nachelle Austile, said he was “numb” following the ordeal. “You got to be in shock to know your friends are capable of doing this to you. Like somebody you trusted, it’s just horrible,” she added.
The family has faced financial difficulties since the incident, with both West and her partner unable to work while caring for the boy. Austile revealed that the child would require counselling to rebuild trust.
West thanked well-wishers for their support in a heartfelt Facebook post. “I woke up to SO much LOVE being shown to my son! Words can’t describe how Thankful I am,” she wrote, adding, “He’s a warrior and strong.”
Second-degree burns typically take weeks to heal and often leave scars, but West remains hopeful about her son’s recovery.