Coorparoo: Harrowing footage emerges of nine-month-old boy’s injuries after stranger poured scalding coffee over him in a Brisbane park
Photos have emerged of a nine-month-old baby just before and after a stranger poured boiling coffee on him, causing burns to 60 percent of his body, leaving his mother traumatized.
The young boy was on a picnic with his mother and friends at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo in Brisbane’s south when an unknown man approached the group around noon on Tuesday.
He poured a thermos of coffee over the baby before fleeing the scene. He was still on the run as of Wednesday evening.
A photo taken shortly before the incident shows the baby happily sitting on a rug playing with a toy truck.
Heartbreaking footage has also emerged of the baby lying in hospital afterwards, wrapped in bandages and screaming in pain.
The baby’s mother became emotional as she relived the horrific event.
“It’s torture and I should be his protector, but I couldn’t protect him,” she said Nine news.
‘I keep having flashbacks of what happened and I wish he had poured the coffee on me.
“I don’t know who would think it was okay to hurt a little innocent baby.”
A nine-month-old baby (pictured) has burns to 60 percent of his body after a stranger spilled hot coffee on him
Queensland Police are working to identify an unidentified man (pictured) who was seen running from the Brisbane park after the attack
The baby’s mother (pictured with her partner) said she repeatedly has “flashbacks” of the moment the man poured the coffee over 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 recounted how she tried to chase after the attacker but tripped.
“As I ran back, I grabbed my water bottle and threw it over him. We laid him down on the picnic blanket and took off his clothes, exposing his skin. His skin had blisters on it,” she said.
‘Some very kind bystanders came up to him, filled their bottles with water and poured it over him.’
Ms Mazza added that the boy’s mother is having a very hard time dealing with the situation.
“She’s been having a lot of anxiety right now. She hasn’t been able to sleep well, if she can sleep at all,” she 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 general anaesthetic for the next few weeks.’
An off-duty nurse reportedly heard screams from her nearby home and ran to the park to help the boy.
She told 7News The mother screamed, “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 held him under a cold shower until emergency services arrived.
The baby was then rushed to Queensland Children’s Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
The nine-month-old baby suffered severe burns over 60 percent of his body, including his face, upper body and arms. His injuries are not life-threatening.
Mrs. Mazza has a GoFundMe fundraiser set up to raise money for the baby’s medical expenses.
“This was a heartless, 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 as he is treated for severe burns.
‘He has a long recovery period ahead of him, including visits to multiple doctors, specialists and hospital appointments.
‘I would like to raise some money for medical and household expenses so that my friend and her family can have less pressure 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 in Queensland Children’s Hospital
On Wednesday, police released confronting images showing the alleged attacker running out of the park.
He is described as being 30-40 years old, of proportional build, tanned skin and wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts.
Detective Paul Dalton said Wednesday the baby was in stable condition.
He described the attack as “heartless and cowardly” and “completely unprovoked”.
“When you look at the circumstances, particularly for us as parents, walking through a park in Brisbane on a beautiful winter’s day, enjoying time with our baby… it must be terrifying to be approached and attacked in this way,” Dalton said.
‘In my 35 years as a police officer, I have never seen a job where a child of this age, in these circumstances, has been assaulted. That should not happen.
‘Everyone has the right to feel safe in our community.
“This type of behavior will not be tolerated and we have used every resource available at this time to hold this individual accountable.”
A family friend said the baby (pictured) “has a long recovery ahead of him, with more doctor, specialist and hospital appointments to come.”
The nine-month-old boy (pictured before the attack) remains in Queensland Children’s Hospital
The baby was enjoying a picnic with his family at Hanlon Park in Coorparoo in Brisbane’s south (pictured) when an unknown man approached the group
Detective Inspector Dalton assured parents in Brisbane that his officers are working “day and night” to find the perpetrator.
Anyone who recognizes the man running away in the photo, or who has information that could assist with the investigation, is urged to contact police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.