.png)
3 weeks ago
3
Photos have emerged of a nine-month-old baby moments before and after a stranger poured boiling coffee over him, causing burns to 60 per cent of his body and leaving his mother traumatised.
The young bub was at a picnic with his mum and friends at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo in Brisbane when an unknown man approached the group at about midday on Tuesday.
He poured a thermos of coffee over the baby before fleeing the scene. He remained on the run on Wednesday night.
A photo taken shortly before the incident shows the baby sitting on a rug happily playing with a toy truck.
Heartbreaking footage has also emerged of the baby in hospital afterwards, wrapped in bandages and screaming in pain.
The baby's mother became emotional as she relived the harrowing ordeal.
'It's torture and I'm supposed to be his protector and I couldn't protect him,' she told Nine News.
'I'm just having flashbacks all the time about what happened and I wish that he had poured the coffee over me.
'I don't know who would think it is okay to harm a little, innocent baby.'
A nine-month-old baby (pictured) has burns to 60 per cent of his body after a stranger threw scalding coffee over him
Queensland Police are working to identify an unknown man (pictured) who was seen running from the Brisbane park after the attack
The mother of the baby (pictured with her partner) said she has repetitive 'flashbacks' of the moment the man poured the coffee over her baby
Family friend Zara Mazza was sitting alongside 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 attempted to chase down the assailant but tripped.
'As I ran back I picked up my water bottle and dumped it over him... we laid him down on the picnic rug and we peeled his clothes away, which revealed the peeling of his skin - his skin had started to blister,' she said.
'Some really lovely onlookers came over and filled up water bottles and kept pouring it over him.'
Ms Mazza added that the boy's mother is struggling as a result of the ordeal.
'She's got a lot of anxiety right now. She's not been able to sleep very well, if at all,' she said.
'Bub is in a stable condition. He's had burns to his face, neck, chest and arms, and they say that he'll need regular dressing changes under anaesthetic over the next few weeks.'
An off-duty nurse reportedly heard screams from her nearby residence and ran to the park to help the boy.
She told 7News his mother was yelling 'my baby, my baby'.
The baby (pictured before the attack) was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery
The nurse took the boy back to her apartment and kept him under a cold shower until paramedics arrived.
The baby was then rushed to the Queensland Children's Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
The nine-month-old suffered serious but non-life-threatening burns to 60 per cent of his body, including his face, upper body and arms.
Ms Mazza has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money for the baby's medical expenses.
'This was a callous, 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 stay for a while, while he is treated for severe burns.
'He has a long recovery ahead of him which will include further doctors', specialists' [and] hospital appointments.
'[I] would love to raise some money towards any medical or household costs to help ease the pressure off of my friend and her family while they take the time to be home and help their beautiful boy heal.'
The young 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 alleged attacker running from the park.
He's described as aged 30-40 with a proportionate build, tanned skin and wore a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton on Wednesday said the baby was in a stable condition.
He described the attack as 'callous and cowardly' as well as 'completely unprovoked'.
'When you look at the circumstances, particularly for us who are parents, going through a park on a beautiful winter's day in Brisbane, enjoying time with your baby... to be approached like this and attacked in this way must be terrifying,' Dalton said.
'In 35 years of being 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 a right to feel safe in our community.
'This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and we've thrown all our resources that we can possibly (spare) to it at this stage to hold this person accountable.'
A family friend said the baby (pictured) 'has a long recovery ahead of him which will include further doctors', specialists' and hospital appointments'
The nine-month-old boy (pictured before the attack) remains at Queensland Children's Hospital
The baby was with his family enjoying a picnic at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo in Brisbane (pictured) when an unknown man approached the group
Inspector Dalton also reassured Brisbane parents 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 can assist investigations, is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.
English (US)