A 12-year-old boy in Tifton, Georgia, suffered second-degree burns after his friends poured scalding water on his face as a prank during a sleepover. The incident left the boy hospitalized and undergoing surgery at a burn center in Augusta.
The boy, whose identity has been withheld, was asleep at his neighbor's apartment when the three other boys, aged 12 to 15, decided to carry out what they thought would be a humorous stunt. Tiffany West, the boy’s mother, told WALB that the children had been playing video games before one of them poured boiling water on her son, causing severe injuries, particularly to his face.
The victim's mother expressed her devastation and anger at the incident.
“I was mad, hurt, and in shock. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I just wanted to get him help as quickly as possible,” Ms. West said.
After receiving medical attention and surgery, the boy has since returned home to recover. However, his family says he is struggling emotionally. His aunt, Nachelle Austile, shared that the boy appeared numb and unresponsive when asked how he felt about the incident.
“He’s in shock. To know that his friends—people he trusted—could do this to him is heartbreaking. He never thought something like this could happen,” she said.
The three boys involved in the incident were arrested but have been released to their families as they await court hearings next month. The case has raised concerns about the dangers of pranks and the need for better supervision during sleepovers.
