WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT: Jacob suffered burns to 32 percent of his body and suffered catastrophic third-degree burns to his face, torso, arms, back and legs.
The family of a teenager who was allegedly doused in petrol and set on fire have revealed the horrific extent of his injuries.
At around 6pm local time on Monday 13 October, Jacob Thompson, 19, was walking along Cowper Street, Coonabarabran, when he was approached by a man and two women. Police were told that a member of the group allegedly poured a liquid on Jacob before he caught fire. Bystanders put out the fire and Jacob before he was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Jacob’s family have now revealed that he suffered burns to 32 per cent of his body, suffering catastrophic third-degree burns to his face, torso, arms, back and legs. Due to the severity of his injuries and damage to his airway, Jacob was flown to Sydney and placed in an induced coma on life support, the family said in a statement.
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Jacob remains in intensive care at Concord Hospital, in Sydney’s inner west, where his family has been by his side.
“This deeply traumatic incident was witnessed by his immediate family and partner, leaving physical and emotional scars that will take a lifetime to heal,” the family said.
The police confirmed in a statement “a 45-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were arrested at a nearby property. They were all taken to Coonabarabran Police Station where the man was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent and affray; the older woman was also charged with affray. They were refused bail.”
The spokesperson added: “The teenager was released pending further investigation.”
A GoFundMe has been started to help the family while they move and Mr. Thompson recovers from his injuries. A message on the page read: “The family would be grateful if you could support with a donation, no matter how big or small, every penny will make a difference in helping Jacob and his family rebuild their lives.”
You can donate to the GoFundMe page by doing by clicking here.
