A preteen suffered second-degree burns after three boys poured scalding hot water on his face as he slept, his family has revealed.
The incident left the 12-year-old in a burn unit in Augusta, Georgia, and his mother, Tiffany West, incredibly furious. According to experts, her child will likely carry scars from the burns forever.
She told local media how the incident happened, describing how her son had been sleeping in a neighbor’s apartment in Tifton while three of his so-called friends played video games.
West said the trio, boys ranging in age from 12 to 15, then planned the prank, believing it would be funny to douse their friend with sizzling water.
Hospital admission and surgery soon followed, she said, adding that her son was now recovering at home.
At the request of the family, DailyMail.com would not name the youngster, who still bears physical and mental scars from the ordeal he will likely have to contend with for the rest of his life.
She and other family members are now seeking justice after the boys were arrested and released to their families pending a criminal hearing next month.
It remains unclear what charges they face as their identities remain confidential due to their ages. Their victim, meanwhile, has been left “numb” by the incident, his aunt Nachelle Austile said.
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A preteen suffered second-degree burns after three boys poured scalding hot water on his face as he slept, his family has revealed
The incident left the 12-year-old – seen here with his sisters – in a burn unit in Augusta, Georgia, and his mother incredibly furious. Experts say he will likely carry scars from the burns for the rest of his life
“He’s numb to it,” she said WALB-10 this week, when asked if the boy was “angry or sad” about the ordeal.
She said he still didn’t show any emotion.
She added that she and the rest of the family are now going through difficult times, with many having stopped working to oversee the preteen’s recovery. Doctors said this will last at least 12 days, she said.
In the meantime, medical bills continue to mount, she said, adding that her nephew may now need counseling to mentally recover from his ordeal, and to “be able to trust people again.”
“You must be shocked to know that your friends could do this to you,” she said by phone on New Year’s Day.
“As someone you trusted, it’s just devastating,” she continued, as photos and videos taken during the boy’s hospital stay show his badly burned face.
“He never thought something like this would happen to him,” Austile continued. “My brother and Tiffany have been out of work since this happened because of all the traveling.”
The day the incident occurred remains unclear, but statements from the boy’s mother indicate it happened just a few days ago.
They also revealed how she reacted to the incident, recalling the moment she heard about the terrifying prank gone wrong.
“He’s numb about it,” a family member told WALB-10 this week, when asked if the boy was “angry or sad” about the ordeal. He is currently recovering at home after successful surgery, they said
The day the incident occurred remains unclear, but statements from the boy’s mother, Tiffany West (seen here with the victim), indicate it happened just days ago.
They also revealed how she reacted to the incident, recalling the moment she heard about the terrifying prank gone wrong. The photo shows the apartment complex where the victim was staying when he was doused
“I mean, I really can’t describe it right now,” she told the station, also by phone, and asked that her son – who has two school-age sisters – not be mentioned by name.
‘At that moment I was just angry, hurt, in shock. Everything, I saw red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him help.”
She broke the silence on social media on Friday and thanked spectators for their support and words of encouragement.
She added that after her son was “transported to the burn center in Augusta and underwent surgery,” he is recovering at home.
As he continues to heal, Austile said her sister-in-law will be the one most tasked with caring for him while he recovers.
“She has to be here for him,” she declared.
Aside from the invisible scars, the physical scars caused by the burns can last a lifetime, according to Medical News Today’s second-degree burn statistics.
In the meantime, West has praised her son as a “warrior and strong” as donations continue to pour in to help the family through the unexpected crisis.
As he continues to heal, the boy’s aunt, Na’Chelle Austille, said her sister-in-law will be the one most charged with “caring for (the victim) while he recovers.”
None of the boys reportedly charged in the attack will be named, says West, seen here with her three children. She said a trial is scheduled for next month as she continues to care for the victim (left). She asked that he also not be mentioned by name
‘All your donations are greatly appreciated and it’s all for my son!’ she wrote on Facebook on Friday, after a fake GoFundMe was started days after the incident.
“Every donation, gift, words of encouragement and prayer puts a SMILE on my son’s face!” she continued.
None of the boys she said were charged were named. She said a trial is scheduled for next month. DailyMail.com has reached out to West for more information.