Major update on baby burned in park

A baby boy who was scalded by boiling hot coffee in an alleged random attack in a Brisbane park is back up “walking and causing chaos” while awaiting his third surgery.

Nine-month-old Luka was with his mother and a friend at Hanlon Park on August 27 when he was allegedly attacked by a man who poured a Thermos of coffee over him.

The man allegedly fled from the scene and, despite police releasing images of an individual they wish to talk to about the incident, is yet to be located almost a week later.

In an update on Monday, the boy’s mother said the infant was walking again ahead of a third surgery that she hoped would deliver “more information about the next steps”.

“Luka has been incredibly resilient. He’s up and about, walking and causing chaos. He is such a strong little boy and we are so-so proud of him,” she said.

In an earlier update, the woman said Luka suffered serious burns, with those under his neck and chest likely to scar. The prospect of a skin graft has bee raised, the mother said.

She said she had been “blown away” by the support she and her family had received through a GoFundMe campaign set up to pay for Luka’s medical expenses.

“This GoFundMe will be able to support Luka with all of his ongoing care needs which is truly a weight lifted off our shoulders,” the woman said.

“Not only that it will also support myself, my family, and ongoing mental health, given the nature of the event this will be an extremely long journey ahead for us all.”

The campaign was launched in the days after the alleged attack with a target of just $5000; by midday on Monday, it had raised more than $110,000.

Police earlier described the man they wish to speak to as between 30-40 years old, of a proportionate build, with tanned skin. He was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts.

Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton described the attack as being “almost like an ambush”, while Premier Steven Miles added that officers were “working hard”.