Sleepover Prank Leaves Georgia Boy, 12, with Severe Burns after 3 friends pour boiling water on him

A 12-year-old boy from Georgia was left with severe burns after a sleepover prank took a dangerous turn. The young boy was spending the night at his neighbor's apartment in Tifton, Ga., when his friends, aged between 12 and 15, decided to play a cruel joke on him by pouring scalding water on his face while he was asleep.

According to the boy's mother, Tiffany West, the unsuspecting child suffered second-degree burns primarily on his face due to the hot water prank. The severity of his injuries led to him being rushed to a burn center in Augusta, where he underwent surgery to treat his burns. He is currently recovering at home under the care of his family.

Expressing her shock and anger, West described the moment she found out about the incident, stating, "I mean, I really can’t describe it now. 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."

Following the disturbing event, the three boys responsible for the prank were arrested. However, they were later released to their families pending their court hearings scheduled for the upcoming month, as reported by WALB.

The boy's aunt, Nachelle Austile, shared that upon returning home, the boy seemed emotionally numb, unable to express whether he was mad or sad about the incident. She highlighted the psychological impact, stating, "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."

Medical experts note that second-degree burns, like those suffered by the young boy, typically take two to three weeks to heal and often leave lasting scars. The family is now facing financial challenges as they have had to stop working to care for their son, leading to mounting medical bills during his 12 to 14 days of recovery.

West's brother and Austile mentioned the financial strain on the family, with Austile sharing, "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."

Emphasizing the need for emotional support, Austile highlighted that her nephew would require counseling to overcome the trauma and learn to trust people again after the betrayal by his friends.