Georgia boy severely burned in sleepover prank is now healing and smiling again
12-year-old Trey West was left with serious burns after a sleepover prank went horribly wrong—but thanks to support from loved ones and strangers, he's on the road to recovery.
A Georgia boy is recovering from painful burns after a shocking sleepover prank left his face badly injured—but his strength and his community’s love are helping him heal.
On New Year’s Day, 12-year-old Trey West was staying over at a neighbor’s apartment in Tifton, Georgia. He was there with three other boys, ages 12 to 15, and everything seemed normal. But while Trey was asleep, the other boys allegedly poured boiling water on his face as a prank.
His mother, Tiffany West, described the moment as a nightmare. “I was mad, hurt, in shock,” she said. “I was seeing red. I was just trying to hurry up and get him some help.”
Doctors said Trey suffered second-degree burns—injuries that damage the skin deeply and often leave long-lasting scars. He was rushed to a burn center in Augusta, where he had surgery and began the slow journey to recovery.
A mother’s pain, a boy’s strength
Tiffany West and Trey’s aunt, Nachelle Austile, say the incident left Trey emotionally stunned. “He’s numb about it,” West said. “Like somebody you trusted… it’s just horrible.”
His aunt added, “You got to be in shock to know your friends are capable of doing this to you.”
Despite everything, Trey has shown amazing strength. After surgery, he returned home and began healing. It hasn’t been easy—he had to sleep in a recliner to keep his head elevated—but things are getting better. He now sleeps in his bed again and might return to school soon.
After the incident, people from across the community reached out with donations, prayers, and kind words. West took to Facebook to thank everyone: “I woke up to SO much LOVE being shown to my son… Every donation, gift, encouraging word, and prayer has put a smile on my son’s face!”
In a heartwarming update posted on January 11, she shared a video of Trey smiling and dancing with his baby sister. “He’s healing beautifully! Nobody but God,” she wrote.
The three boys involved were arrested but later released to their families while they await court hearings next month. The case has sparked discussions about the consequences of reckless behavior, especially among kids.
Experts say pranks like this show the need for stronger conversations about empathy, responsibility, and safety. “This was not a joke,” one commenter posted online. “This was cruel.”
Trey’s story is a painful but powerful reminder of how fragile trust can be—and how healing, both physical and emotional, takes time. But thanks to love from his family and support from the community, this brave young boy is starting to smile again.
“He’s a warrior,” his mom says. And right now, he’s winning.
