Photos have emerged of a nine-month-old baby moments before and after a stranger poured scalding hot coffee on him, causing burns to 60 per cent of his body, leaving his mother traumatised.
The boy was on a picnic with his mother and friends at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo, south of Brisbane, when an unknown man approached the group around midday on Tuesday.
He spilled a thermos of coffee on the baby before fleeing the scene. He remained at large as of Wednesday night.
A photo taken shortly before the incident shows the baby sitting on a rug happily playing with a toy truck.
Heartbreaking images have also emerged of the baby in hospital after the incident, wrapped in bandages and screaming in pain.
The baby’s mother became emotional as she relived the ordeal.
“It’s torture and I’m supposed to be his protector and I couldn’t protect him,” she said. Nine news.
‘I keep flashing back to what happened and wishing he had spilled the coffee on me.
“I don’t know who would think of harming a small, innocent baby.”
A nine-month-old baby (pictured) has burns over 60 per cent of his body after a stranger threw scalding hot coffee on him.
Queensland Police are working to identify an unknown man (pictured) who was seen fleeing a Brisbane park after the attack.
The baby’s mother (pictured with her partner) said she has repeated flashbacks to the moment the man poured the coffee on her baby.
Family friend Zara Mazza was sitting next to the baby and his mother when the stranger attacked.
Ms Mazza fought back tears on The Project on Wednesday night as she recalled how she tried to chase after the attacker but stumbled.
“As I was running back, I grabbed my water bottle and threw it on him… we laid him down on the picnic blanket and took off his clothes, which revealed that his skin was peeling off; his skin had started to blister,” she said.
“Some very friendly spectators came up, filled bottles of water and kept pouring it over him.”
Ms Mazza added that the boy’s mother is struggling to come to terms with the ordeal.
“She’s very anxious right now. She hasn’t been able to sleep very well, if at all,” he said.
‘Bub is in a stable condition. He has burns to his face, neck, chest and arms, and they say he will need regular dressing changes under anaesthetic over the next few weeks.’
An off-duty nurse reportedly heard screams coming from her nearby residence and ran to the park to help the boy.
She said 7News The mother was screaming: “My baby, my baby.”
The baby (pictured before the attack) was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
The nurse took the boy to her apartment and kept him under a cold shower until paramedics arrived.
The baby was then rushed to Queensland Children’s Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
The nine-month-old baby suffered severe, but non-life-threatening, burns over 60 percent of his body, including his face, upper body and arms.
Ms. Mazza has created a GoFundMe Fundraising event created to raise money for the baby’s medical expenses.
“This was a cruel and random attack on my friend’s baby. He does not deserve this pain and suffering,” she wrote.
‘(He) is currently in hospital and is expected to remain there for some time, while receiving treatment for serious burns.
‘He has a long recovery ahead of him that will include more doctors, specialists and hospital appointments.
‘I would love to raise some money to cover medical or household expenses to help ease the pressure on my friend and her family while they take time to be home and help their beautiful boy heal.’
The boy (pictured) was in a stable condition on Wednesday morning and remains at Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Footage released by police on Wednesday showed the suspected attacker fleeing the park.
He is described as being between 30 and 40 years old, of well-proportioned build, tanned skin and wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said on Wednesday the baby was in a stable condition.
He described the attack as “cruel and cowardly” and “completely unprovoked.”
“When you look at the circumstances, particularly for us as parents, walking through a park on a beautiful winter’s day in Brisbane, enjoying time with your baby… to be approached like that and attacked in this way must be terrifying,” Dalton said.
‘In the 35 years I’ve been working as a police officer, I’ve never come across a job where a child this young, in these circumstances, has been attacked. It shouldn’t happen.
‘Everyone has the right to feel safe in our community.
“This type of behavior will not be tolerated and we have devoted every resource we possibly can (save) at this stage to holding this individual accountable.”
A family friend said the baby (pictured) “has a long recovery ahead of him that will include more doctors, specialists and hospital appointments.”
The nine-month-old boy (pictured before the attack) remains in Queensland Children’s Hospital.
The baby was with his family enjoying a picnic at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo, south of Brisbane (pictured), when an unknown man approached the group.
Inspector Dalton also assured Brisbane parents that his officers are “working around the clock” to find the perpetrator.
Anyone who recognises the man pictured fleeing the scene, or who has any information that could assist inquiries, is urged to contact police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.