A sleepover prank took a terrifying turn when the trusted friends of a 12-year-old Georgia boy dumped scalding water on him, ripping the skin from his face and leaving him with severe burns.

Georgia’s Trey West spent New Year’s Day in hospital, recovering from the severe burns left on most of his face after three of his friends allegedly found amusement in pouring boiling water over his face while he slept.

According to WALB 10, the 12-year-old was at his neighbor’s Tifton apartment, enjoying a sleepover with three other boys – ranging in age from 12 to 15When the incident happened, Trey was sleeping while the other pre-teens were playing video games. Then one of the kids dumped hot water on Trey, said his mother, Tiffany West.

“I mean, I really can’t describe it now. In that moment I was just mad, hurt, in shock,” West said of the alleged prank, that caused second degree burns, primarily on the boy’s face, requiring immediate medical attention.

“I was seeing red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him some help.”

Medical News Today writes these burns can be extremely painful and following an almost months-long healing process, “second-degree burns often leave a scar, which may fade over several years.”

‘Numb’

West’s son was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to treat his injuries.

“He was transported to the burn center in Augusta. He had to have surgery. Of course, he is out of surgery and is recovering at home, now. But it is going to take him 12-14 days to heal,” said West about Trey’s journey ahead, which will have both physical and emotional challenges.

“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,” said Nachelle Austile, the boy’s aunt.

“I always ask him if he’s mad, sad…he just doesn’t have [any] emotion about it,” Austile says while West adds, “he’s numb about it.”

The three boys responsible for the prank were arrested but later released to their families as they await court hearings scheduled for next month.

Challenging moments

Meanwhile, the community has rallied around the victim and his family, offering donations and support.

West expressed her gratitude in an emotional Facebook post, thanking well-wishers for their generosity and encouraging words. “I woke up to SO much LOVE being shown to my son!” she wrote. “It brings tears to my eyes to know so many people care for me & my son and that we are not alone in this.”

The post continued, “I drop to my knees every day thanking God that my baby is still here and he is going to be ok because it could have been [worse],” West writes in the January 3, 2025 post.

Referring to her son as a “warrior,” West celebrated the positivity that the community’s kindness has brought to their lives: “Every donation, gift, encouraging word, and prayer has put a smile on my son’s face!” she added.

Days later, she shared another social media post, explaining that her young boy was at home and recovering well.

“My son is recovering beautifully since surgery! He may be able to go back to school next week after his second follow up appointment Tuesday! Occasionally, he does have some challenging moments but overall, he’s in good spirits,” she writes. “When we first got home from the hospital, he had to stay elevated and sleep in a recliner but now he’s able to sleep normal in his own bed…I don’t only cry because of sadness and madness but also because of joy that my baby boy is going to be just fine!”

Perhaps the most heartwarming update is a clip that West shared on January 11, where Trey is seen smiling and dancing with his sister.

“Video of my son & his baby sister. He’s healing Beautifully! Nobody But God,” she writes.

The ordeal serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of reckless pranks and the importance of fostering empathy and accountability among youth.

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