Baby left with 60% burns after stranger doused him with scalding hot coffee during family picnic as cops release CCTV
A NINE-MONTH-OLD baby has been left with 60 per cent burns after a stranger doused him with scalding hot coffee in an unprovoked attack.
The innocent baby was at a picnic with his mum and friends in Brisbane, Australia when an unknown man approached the group.
The sick stranger poured a thermos of scalding hot coffee over the innocent baby before fleeing the scene – and remains on the run.
An image taken of the baby shows him sitting on a blanket playing with a toy car happily before disaster.
But then other pictures show him after the horrific incident – wrapped in bandages and in tears following the evil attack.
An off-duty nurse reportedly ran to the baby’s aid after she heard screams for her apartment nearby.
She heroically took the boy back to her home and kept him under a cold shower until paramedics arrived.
The nine-month-old was then rushed to Queensland Children’s Hospital where he tragically underwent emergency surgery.
The baby has suffered serious but non-life-threatening burns to horrifically 60 per cent of his body – including his face, upper body and arms.
Footage released by cops on Wednesday shows the alleged attacker running from the park.
He is described as age 30 to 40, proportionate build and tanned skin.
He’s caught on CCTV wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts.
The baby’s mum has been left in complete shock and horror after the incident.
She told 9News: “It’s torture and I’m supposed to be his protector and I couldn’t protect him.
“I’m just having flashbacks all the time about what happened and I wish that he had poured the coffee over me.
“I don’t know who would think it is okay to harm a little, innocent baby.”
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton confirmed that the injured baby was in a stable condition.
He called the attack “callous and cowardly” and “completely unprovoked.”
The detective said: “In 35 years of being a police officer, I’ve never come across a job where a child this young, in these circumstances, has been attacked. It shouldn’t happen.
“This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and we’ve thrown all our resources that we can possibly to it at this stage to hold this person accountable.”
Family friend Zara Mazza was at the picnic when the attack occurred and has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the baby’s medical bills.
The page read: “This was a callous, random attack on my friends baby. He does not deserve this pain and suffering.
“[He] is currently in hospital and is suspected to stay for a while, whilst he is treated for severe burns.
“He has a long recovery ahead of him which will include further doctors, specialists, hospital appointments.”
Inspector Dalton confirmed that cops are working “around the clock” to find the perpetrator.