A boy has been hospitalised with severe burns to his face and legs after another child allegedly poured gasoline on a tennis ball, lit it on fire and threw it at him.
Dominick Krankall, six, is suffering from severe second-and-third degree burns to his face and legs.
The alleged attack happened on Sunday while Dominick was in the back garden of his family's home with a group of children who were reportedly neighbours in Bridgeport, Connecticutm US.
An eight-year-old neighbour reportedly entered a shed and got ahold of gasoline and lighters before calling Dominick over, it was reported.
Sister Kayla Deegan told WNBC : "As soon as he walked down the stairs, the bully called his name and lured him over around the corner, and in a matter of seconds he came back around the corner, saying ‘Mommy, they lit me on fire'".
Dominick's family have claimed this isn't the first time the eight-year-old has bullied him.
Dominick’s mother, Maria Rua, said in a statement to WTNH : “My son has been bullied by this child for a year.
"That day, they purposefully threw a gasoline-saturated ball that they lit on fire at my son’s face.
"They called his name so he would turn around. They threw it at Dominick and left him alone outside to die.”
She added: “His face is about twice the size it normally is. He’s swollen with blisters. You can’t even see his beautiful eyes anymore.”
Kayla wrote on a GoFundMe page: "My six-year-old brother could've died. The kid covered a ball in gasoline, lit it on fire and threw it at him. All in a matter of seconds.
"He's going to be scarred for life mentally and physically."
Dominick is said to be in "fair condition" as he remains in hospital.
The Bridgeport Office of Emergency Management said in a statement initial reports indicate up to four unattended children were seen playing with gasoline and lighting objects on fire, NBC reported.
Kayla wrote: "He has a history of bullying, and he has gotten away with too much. The mother thinks he is innocent. The family thinks it's a joke.
"Even though Dominick can't talk because he's in a lot of pain and all swollen, he said to my mum, 'Please don't take me back there'.
"This is extremely unfair and shouldn't ever happen to ANY CHILD!!! We need justice for our little Dominick."
No criminal charges have been filed, and the child has not been identified, local news reports.
The family started a GoFundMe page to help with Dominick's hospital bills and to find a new home.
As of Wednesday, their page had raised more than £65,000.
