A 12-year-old boy from Georgia is recovering from severe burns after a sleepover prank took a dangerous turn. The boy was sleeping at a neighbor’s apartment in Tifton, Georgia, when his friends, aged between 12 and 15, allegedly poured boiling water on his face. The boy’s mother, Tiffany West, reported that the prank resulted in second-degree burns, primarily on her son’s face.
The boy was rushed to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia, where he underwent surgery. He is now recuperating at home. West expressed her anger and shock at the reckless act that caused her son such harm. “I was just mad, hurt, in shock. Everything, I was seeing red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him some help,” she said.
The three boys involved in the incident were arrested but were later released to their families. They are awaiting court hearings scheduled for next month. The victim’s aunt, Nachelle Austile, said the boy was not showing any emotion after the incident. “He’s numb about it,” she said.
Austile also expressed her disbelief that the boy’s friends could inflict such harm. “You got to be in shock to know your friends are capable of doing this to you. Like somebody you trusted, it’s just horrible. He never thought something like this would happen to him,” she added.
Second-degree burns typically take two to three weeks to heal and often leave a scar, according to Medical News Today. The family is facing financial difficulties due to the incident, with mounting medical bills and lost work time. Austile said, “My brother and Tiffany have been out of work since this happened with all the traveling. She is still gonna be out of work to take care of him while he is recovering. She needs to be here for him.”
Austile also mentioned 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.