A tragic victim of senseless violence.
That’s how 12-year-old Lucas Baldock’s story is being described.
Now, his heartbreaking tale is going viral, sending shivers through parents around the world.
Called his mum screaming
Pranks are meant to be fun — but sometimes, they go horribly wrong. At Newsner, we’ve covered several stories where harmless jokes took a dangerous turn, leaving victims injured or worse.
Now, a 12-year-old soccer player from Australia’s Gold Coast is recovering from devastating head-to-toe burns after a prank at a local park went horribly wrong.
Lucas Baldock, a keen futsal player, was seriously injured on September 26 when a deodorant can was set on fire and exploded.
Family friend Carriae Sempf has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Lucas and his family, sharing the shocking circumstances of the accident.
“A child at Lucas’ local park lit a deodorant can and called Lucas over,” Sempf wrote. ”Lucas walked over unaware of what was going on. Another child threw something at the deodorant can. It exploded. Lucas is covered head to toe in burns.
“Lucas telephoned his mum Sandy from the park screaming that he was on fire. My heart is breaking for Lucas and Sandy. What a frightening and traumatic experience for them both.”
The injuries forced Lucas to withdraw from competing for Queensland in a national futsal tournament just days later.
Heartbreaking result
A heartbreaking photo shared on the fundraiser shows Lucas lying in a hospital bed with severe burns on one side of his face, while his arm and leg are tightly bandaged.
“What was meant to be 4 fabulous days on the futsal court has turned into multiple hospital visits and likely surgery required for Lucas. As you can imagine, Lucas is in considerable pain,” Sempf continued.
She concluded with a moving tribute: “Lucas. A beautiful child. An innocent victim to a mindless act.”
Despite the trauma, a recent update brought hope and relief.
A new photo shows Lucas smiling alongside a teammate, his facial injuries still visible but his spirit clearly unbroken.
Police update
“So lovely to see Lucas smile again!” Sempf wrote. “A huge heart-felt thanks to everyone who has supported Lucas! What an incredible community we have.”
Queensland Police confirmed the explosion was accidental following a review by the Gold Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit.
“All parents were spoken to and did not wish to make a formal complaint. There is no ongoing police involvement,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
As of this week, the GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $6,000 to help Lucas and his family cover medical expenses.
”If you can spare a few dollars to help this beautiful family with their medical costs please do,” Sempf added.
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