Baby Scalded with Hot Coffee in Unprovoked Attack at Brisbane Park
A heartwarming photograph taken just moments before a horrifying incident in a Brisbane park shows a nine-month-old baby boy grinning and playing with his toy car. Shortly after, the child was assaulted by a stranger who scalded him with hot coffee.
The attack occurred around midday on Tuesday at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner, where the baby was enjoying a picnic with his mother and another family. An unknown man approached the group and, without warning, poured hot coffee from a thermos onto the baby, causing serious burns.
The infant sustained burns to 60 percent of his body, including his face, upper body, and arms. He was rushed to Queensland Children’s Hospital, where he underwent surgery. Detective Inspector Paul Dalton confirmed that the baby is now in stable condition, reported Daily Mail.
An off-duty nurse, who lives nearby, heard the mother’s frantic screams and rushed to assist. “I heard the mother yelling ‘my baby, my baby,’” the nurse recalled. She quickly brought the boy back to her apartment and placed him under a cold shower until paramedics arrived.
The other mother at the picnic has since set up a GoFundMe campaign to support the family during this difficult time. “I would love to raise some money towards any medical or household costs to help ease the pressure off my friend and her family while they take the time to be home and help their beautiful boy heal,” she said.
The child’s mother, still reeling from the incident, expressed her anguish on social media. “I wish he poured the hot coffee all over me and not my boy,” she wrote. “I will never be able to go out with my boy again and let him have fun without having a panic attack. The screams from my boy are currently haunting me as I lay here in bed next to him post-surgery, unable to sleep.”
Queensland Police have released CCTV footage of the suspect, described as a man aged 30 to 40 years old with a proportionate build and tanned skin. He was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt, and shorts. The police have urged anyone who recognizes the man or has information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Dalton condemned the act as “callous and cowardly,” stating, “This was completely unprovoked. Pouring hot coffee on the baby was a deliberate act. It’s terrifying to think that something like this could happen on a beautiful winter’s day in Brisbane.”
Dalton added that the baby’s parents are “very distressed” and emphasized that such behavior will not be tolerated. Police are actively pursuing several lines of inquiry and have committed all available resources to bring the perpetrator to justice.
“We’re working around the clock until we solve this matter,” Dalton assured the public, urging the attacker to turn himself in and asking residents to check their home CCTV or dashcams for any relevant footage.