A 12-year-old boy from Tifton, Georgia, is on the road to recovery after suffering severe burns in a dangerous prank during a sleepover. The incident occurred at a neighbor’s apartment where the boy was sleeping, and involved his friends, aged between 12 and 15, who allegedly poured boiling water on his face. The boy’s mother, Tiffany West, stated that the prank led to second-degree burns, predominantly on her son’s face.
The boy was immediately rushed to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia, where he underwent surgery. He is currently recuperating at home. West expressed her shock and anger at the reckless act that caused her son such harm. She described her feelings as a mix of anger, hurt, and shock, and her immediate concern was to get her son the help he needed.
The three boys implicated in the incident were arrested but were subsequently released to their families. They are now awaiting court hearings scheduled for the following month. The victim’s aunt, Nachelle Austile, mentioned that the boy was not showing any emotion after the incident, describing his state as “numb.”
Austile also expressed her disbelief that the boy’s friends could inflict such harm. She stated that it was shocking to realize that those considered friends were capable of such an act. She emphasized the betrayal, stating that the boy never thought something like this could happen to him.
Second-degree burns typically take two to three weeks to heal and often leave a scar, according to Medical News Today. The family is now grappling with financial difficulties due to the incident, with increasing medical bills and lost work time. Austile mentioned that her brother and Tiffany have been out of work since the incident, with Tiffany expected to remain out of work to care for her son during his recovery.
Austile also highlighted that her nephew would need counseling to mentally recover from the incident and regain trust in people. West expressed her gratitude on Facebook for the donations and support she received to help her son recover. She referred to her son as a “warrior and strong” and thanked everyone for their donations and encouraging words.