A nine-month-old baby boy, Luka, who suffered severe burns after an alleged random coffee attack in a Brisbane park, is now up and walking as he prepares for his third surgery.
The incident occurred on August 27 at Hanlon Park, where Luka was with his mother and a friend. A man allegedly approached them and poured boiling hot coffee from a Thermos over the baby before fleeing the scene. Despite police efforts and the release of images of a suspect, the man remains at large nearly a week later.
On Monday, Luka’s mother provided an update, expressing relief that her son was back on his feet and causing mischief. She mentioned that they were awaiting further details from an upcoming surgery, which would provide more insight into the next steps of Luka’s recovery.
“Luka has shown incredible resilience. He’s up, walking, and creating chaos. We’re so proud of our strong little boy,” she said.
In a previous update, the mother revealed that Luka had sustained serious burns, particularly on his neck and chest, which might leave permanent scars. The possibility of a skin graft has been discussed by doctors.
The family has received overwhelming support through a GoFundMe campaign, initially set up to cover Luka’s medical expenses. The mother expressed her gratitude, stating, “This GoFundMe will help cover all of Luka’s ongoing care needs, which is a huge relief for us. It will also support our family’s mental health as we navigate this challenging journey.”
The campaign, launched shortly after the incident, had an initial goal of $5,000 but had raised over $110,000 by midday on Monday.
Queensland Police are continuing their investigation. The suspect is described as a man between 30-40 years old, with a proportionate build and tanned skin. He was last seen wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt, and shorts.
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton described the attack as “almost like an ambush,” while Premier Steven Miles assured the public that officers were “working hard” to apprehend the suspect.
