Mother of baby burned in hot coffee attack speaks as little boy discharged from hospital

The mother of a baby severely burnt by hot coffee in a random attack in a Brisbane park has shared new details of the incident and her son’s recovery as he leaves hospital after five surgeries.

The mother of nine-month-old Luka, who was severely burned in a random attack at Brisbane’s Hanlon Park, says the little boy will be released from hospital today, and revealed that she would not normally visit that location.

Luka, who sustained burns to 60 per cent of his body, has undergone five surgeries since the horrifying incident on August 27.

In an emotional interview with KIIS 97.3 hosts Robin Bailey and Kip Wightman, Luka’s mother said Hanlon Park wasn’t her local park, and that they had travelled from Brisbane’s northside to meet friends for a playdate.

“I don’t normally go to the south side,” she explained.

“We were catching up with my ‘mum’s group’ friends.”

She said the man involved approached her from behind as she sat on a picnic rug with her friend and their babies.

“I was only at the park for five minutes, if that, and I was taking photos of my son playing, and he came over from behind and threw this liquid onto him and ran away,” she said.

Baby Luka had hot liquid thrown at him at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner.

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

The man fled the scene and manage to evade an extensive police hunt long enough to escape overseas.

“My friend actually left her baby and me and started running after this guy, but she tripped, fell, and he was very, very fast,” she said.

The park, she said, was unusually quiet that day.

“He knew exactly what he was doing, and he chose the right time,” she said.

His mother described the heartbreaking moment she had to break the news to her partner and Luka’s four-year-old sister.

Baby Luka is ready to go home after five surgeries.

“They were at Chermside Shopping Centre at the time … I called them in hysterics once I was in the shower with Luca at this nurse’s apartment,” she recalled.

“Initially, she [Luka’s sister] was quite frightened and saying, ‘I hope the bad guy doesn’t get me’ – but she’s slowly moving forward, and she understands a little bit of what’s going.”

Police confirmed the 33-year-old suspect left Australia on August 31, last seen in New South Wales on August 28 before flying out of Sydney three days later.

Luka’s mother expressed her anger and frustration at the man’s escape.

“I’m very angry and saddened that he’s not here anymore, and we have to wait years, maybe, to get justice,” she said.

Footage of a man police believed is responsible for the attack.

“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. I do want him to come back to get justice.”

While Luka’s recovery will be ongoing, his mother shared positive news about his condition.

Despite suffering burns to his face, upper body, and arms, doctors have assured the family that his face will heal without long-term damage.

His neck and chest, however, will require further treatments.

“There will be ongoing surgeries for a number of weeks,” she said.

“The face is going to be okay, it’s just the neck and the chest and there will be scarring, but they’ve told us there’s lots they can do with lasering and skin needling.”

The man managed to escape overseas before he could be picked up by Queensland police after an extensive manhunt. Picture: QLD Police

His mother shared that the infant had also battled a bout of gastro during his hospital stay, which delayed his discharge.

“When we went in for his fourth surgery, he had spiked a fever, and that’s the gastro that he had. So we had to stay in over the weekend - so can’t catch a break,” she said.

Throughout this ordeal, Luka has shown remarkable strength.

“He is so strong and brave. He’s always smiling through it … He’s been our strength through it all, doing better than we are,” his mother said.

“If he didn’t have all these bandages and he wasn’t in hospital, you wouldn’t know that this has happened to him.”