A baby boy who was scalded with hot liquid in an alleged random attack in a Brisbane park will undergo a second surgery today, as doctors continue to assess the severity of his burns.
Queensland police have released new images of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries after what they allege was a random attack on the nine-month-old boy, who was with his mother at a playground at Stones Corner in Brisbane’s south. The man was seen running from the park and captured by nearby CCTV cameras.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton told reporters on Wednesday police had increased patrols around the Hanlon Park area after the alleged random but “deliberate” attack.
The distraught parents of the baby boy told The Project on Thursday that the boy was “doing well”.
“He has been playing and interacting and smiling and laughing, which has been really really nice to see because the last couple of days he’s been miserable and in discomfort and pain,” his mother, who has requested anonymity, said.
“He’s having his second surgery tomorrow so we’ll know more information about his burns tomorrow. But at this point in time he’s doing OK.”
The boy’s father was with the couple’s three-year-old daughter at the time and spoke about receiving frantic calls from his partner.
“Still in shock and lost for words to be honest,” he said.
“I still don’t believe somebody would do that to a baby boy. We’re devastated.
“I had five missed calls from my partner when I looked at my phone and instantly knew something must be wrong. I got a hold of her over the car speaker and my daughter, who turns four on Monday, was in the car and it played over the Bluetooth and she heard everything. It was all very frantic.
“She’s incredibly smart girl so she’s very aware of everything, she’s even asking … because she saw my son in the emergency room and was saying ‘I hope the bad guy doesn’t hurt me’ and things like that. We’re still trying to explain it to her.”
The boy’s mother said she had spoken to counsellors but said it would be a “long road” to making sense of the incident.
“I’m not sure how I’m going to feel safe leaving my house with my son in the future,” she said.
Police have said they are devoting significant resources to investigating the incident, including increased foot patrols in the area.
Asked whether parents should be fearful of a repeat attack, Dalton told reporters: “It’s hard to say.
“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.
“I fully understand and comprehend people feeling [concerned about an ongoing threat] … however rest assured we’re doing everything we possibly can to find this person.”
