A preteen suffered second-degree burns after three boys poured scalding hot water on his face as he slept, his family has revealed.
The incident left the 12-year-old in an Augusta, Georgia, burn unit, and his mother, Tiffany West, irate beyond belief. He will likely bear scars from the burns forever, according to expert accounts.
She told local outlets how the incident happened – describing how her son had sleeping over at a neighbor’s apartment in Tifton as three of his supposed friends played video games.
West said the trio, boys ranging in age from 12 to 15, then set out on setting a prank, believing it would be funny to douse their friend with blistering water.
A hospitalization and surgery ensued, she said – adding that her son was now recovering at home.
By the family’s request, DailyMail.com will not name the youngster, who still bears physical and mental scars from the ordeal he will likely deal with for the rest of his life.
She and other relatives are now seeking justice, after the boys were arrested and freed to their families as they await a criminal hearing next month.
It remains unclear what charges they have been hit with, as their identities remain under wraps due to their age. Their victim, meanwhile, has been left ‘numb’ by the incident, his aunt Nachelle Austile said.
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A preteen suffered second-degree burns after three boys poured scalding hot water on his face as he slept, his family has revealed
The incident left the 12-year-old – seen here with his sisters – in an Augusta, Georgia, burn unit, and his mother irate beyond belief. He will likely bear scars from the burns for the rest of his life, according to expert accounts
‘He’s numb about it,’ she told WALB-10 this week, when asked about whether the boy was ‘mad or sad’ over the ordeal.
She said he still wasn’t showing any emotion.
She added how she and the rest of the family are now experiencing hard times, with many having stopped working to oversee the preteen’s recovery. Doctors said that will take at least 12 days, she said.
In the meantime, medical bills continue to mount, she said – adding that her nephew now may counseling to mentally recover from his ordeal, and to ‘be able to trust people again.’
‘You got to be in shock to know your friends are capable of doing this to you,’ she said, speaking to the outlet over the phone on New Year’s Day.
‘Like somebody you trusted, it’s just horrible,’ she went on, as photos and video filmed during the boy’s hospital stay show his badly burned face.
‘He never thought something like this would happen to him,’ Austile continued. ‘My brother and Tiffany have been out of work since this happened with all the traveling.’
The day the incident occurred, meanwhile, remains unclear, but statements from the boy’s mother indicate it happened mere days ago.
They also revealed how she reacted to the incident, with her recalling the moment she learned of the frightening prank-gone-wrong.
‘He’s numb about it,’ one relative told WALB-10 this week, when asked about whether the boy was ‘mad or sad’ over the ordeal. He is currently recovering at home after undergoing successful surgery, they said
The day the incident occurred, meanwhile, remains unclear, but statements from the boy’s mother, Tiffany West (seen with the victim here indicate it happened mere days ago.
They also revealed how she reacted to the incident, with her recalling the moment she learned of the frightening prank-gone-wrong. Pictured, the apartment complex where the victim had been staying when he was doused
‘I mean, I really can’t describe it now,’ she told the station, also over the phone, asking that her son – who has two school-aged sisters – not be named.
‘In that moment 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 broke her social media silence Friday, thanking onlookers for their support and words of encouragement.
She added that after being ‘transported to the burn center in Augusta and underging surgery, her son ‘is recovering at home.’
As he continues to heal, Austile said her sister-in-law will be the one most tasked with ‘tak[ing]care of him while he is recovering.
‘She needs to be here for him,’ she declared.
Aside from the unseen scars, physical ones wrought by the burns could remain for life, second-degree burn statistics tabulated by Medical News Today state.
In the meantime, West has hailed her son as a ‘warrior and strong”, as donations have started to come in to help the family through the unexpected crisis.
![As he continues to heal, the boy's aunt, Na'Chelle Austille, said her sister-in-law will be the one most tasked with 'tak[ing]care of [the victim] while he is recovering](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/16/93756029-14252035-image-a-48_1736093753257.jpg)
As he continues to heal, the boy’s aunt, Na’Chelle Austille, said her sister-in-law will be the one most tasked with ‘tak[ing]care of [the victim] while he is recovering
None of the boys reportedly being charged for the attack are being named, West – seen here with her three kids – said. She said they have a court date slated for next month, as she continues to care for the victim (left). She asked he not be named as well
‘All of your donations are very APPRECIATED & it’s all for my son!’ she wrote on Facebook Friday, after a fake GoFundMe was started days after the incident.
‘Every donation, gift, encouraging words & prayer put a SMILE on my son face!’ she went on.
None of the boys that she said were being charged were named. She said they have a court date slated for next month. DailyMail.com has reached out to West for more information.
