The mother of a severely burned baby says she is suffering panic attacks as a stranger who poured hot coffee on her nine-month-old son remains at large.
The baby underwent a second surgery on Friday after suffering burns to his face and body in the “cowardly” and random attack in a Brisbane park.
His parents have been with him in hospital since the incident in Hanlon Park on Tuesday as police hunt for the man.
The boy had walked unaided for the first time just hours before he suffered a burn during a picnic in the park, his parents said.
“He seems happy again, which is nice to see because the last few days have been very, very difficult,” the mother told reporters, fighting back tears.
“He’s doing well. He’s really playing.”
The nine-month-old baby (pictured) was attacked in a Brisbane park on Tuesday.
On Thursday morning, police released a second photo (pictured) of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the alleged assault in a Brisbane park.
But the woman said she was still shaken by the incident and was afraid another one would happen.
“I repeat it in my head constantly,” he said.
‘Last night I had a panic attack, thinking I was going to hurt someone else because I was out there.
“If he could do this to an innocent baby, he could do much worse things to her. I don’t want anyone to suffer any more harm.”
Police are hoping someone will recognise a man in the enhanced images they have released.
“Please, if you know this man, come closer,” the mother said.
The boy’s father described the horrific moment he was told his son had suffered severe burns.
She was at a shopping centre with her daughter when she called her partner after realising she had missed several calls.
“I knew straight away something was wrong. I called her on the car speaker,” he told Network Ten’s The Project.
‘My daughter… was in the car and it came on Bluetooth and she heard everything.’
The father revealed that when his daughter saw her brother in the emergency room, she said, “I hope the bad guy doesn’t hurt me.”
The boy remains hospitalized in stable condition and is likely to undergo another surgery next week.
“They were able to tell us that the burns on the sides of her face, lower arms and legs should be superficial and will heal properly,” the father told reporters.
The mother was hoping to thank the nurse who helped her at the park by taking her son to her nearby apartment to place him in the shower after passersby poured cold water on the baby.
A GoFundMe page for the baby had raised nearly $93,000 by Friday.
“This has restored my faith in the community and there is goodness there,” the mother said.
The man was wearing glasses, a T-shirt, shorts and a black hat.
He is believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, with a proportionate build and tanned skin.
