‘Peeling off’: Mum’s horror as baby attacked

The mother of a baby boy left with horrific burns after a stranger poured hot coffee on him has described the horrific scene, as she calls for the attacker to be brought to justice.

Luka, who is nine months old, was injured on August 27 while having a picnic with his mother at a Brisbane park.

Police allege the man came up to the boy and poured a Thermos of hot coffee on the child, burning his face and chest.

Queensland Police on Monday said the 33-year-old man accused of the attack had fled the country on his own passport a day before police identified him.

Speaking to KIIS 97.3 on Wednesday, the boy’s mother recounted her horror as the shocking events unfolded.

“He came from behind me, and I was only at the park for five minutes, if that,” she said.

“And I was taking photos of my son, playing with his toy car, because he had been sick for a couple of weeks before that, so it was nice to get out. And he came over from behind and threw this liquid onto my son and ran away.

“I didn’t realise what it was at the time, but then Luka started screaming and I could see his skin peeling off and I knew it was hot liquid. I smelt the coffee.”

Luka has undergone multiple surgeries, and his mum on Monday said his recovery would take “months”.

She has suffered her own trauma from the incident, telling radio hosts Robin and Kip she has barely slept since the attack and is suffering nightmares and panic attacks.

The attacker was not known to Luka or his mum, which she said has made the situation harder to process.

“I’ve spent days thinking, ‘Who is this person, how might he know me?’ Because otherwise, it just doesn’t make sense,” she said.

“But, yeah, absolutely no connection to this person, never seen him before, and neither has my family or anyone that we know. It’s very unfortunate, we live in such a great country, and I just never thought that this would happen.”

The attacker left Brisbane and travelled to NSW on August 28, police said earlier this week, before flying out of the country on August 31.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Luka’s mother said she wants the man brought back to Australia to face justice.

“I don’t want him to just get away with this and to live a normal life wherever he is, because we’re going to be living in trauma for a number of years to come,” she said.

“I do want him to come back to get justice for Luka here in Australia, and I think everyone here would also want that.”