An 11-year-old boy was left with blisters covering his face, hands and legs after an unprovoked assault. Ethan Warburton was also knocked unconscious in the shocking, unprovoked attack.
Ethan was walking in Orford Park, Warrington, at around 4.30pm on Thursday, March 16, when he was struck from behind, punched and kicked by two unknown males. The violent assault left the youngster with suspected chemical burns. However, Cheshire police said they believed the injuries "had not been caused by any liquid".
His mum Louise, 39, told the Liverpool Echo: "As he was walking, he felt he was kicked in the back. He was kicked and punched while he was on the ground, and when he came round, he felt like his face was burning. All he remembers is that one was on a bike and the other was on an electric scooter. He can't remember much after they attacked him from behind, but he suffered burns to his face, his hands and the back of his legs.
"He came home and ran straight upstairs. I called him down for his tea and he said he wasn't hungry because he'd had a McDonald's, so I left him alone for a bit. Every night he comes down and says goodnight, but that night he didn't come down.
"In the morning he got up and left for school without even coming to see us. When he got in from school he went straight upstairs again, and came down at 5pm and said 'I've got something to tell you', and he had his face covered up."
After telling his mum what had happened, Ethan was taken to Warrington A&E, where he remained from 7pm on until 4am on Saturday, March 18. He was referred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital that day, where he received treatment for chemical burns.
Louise said: "He had burns on his hands that had blistered, burns on his mouth, his cheeks, and some little burns on the back of his legs. The doctor thinks he tried to protect his face, and that's why he has the burns on his hands. If he didn't cover his face, it would have gone in his eyes. If it had gone in his mouth, it could have caused long-term damage."
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Ethan, a Birchwood Community High School pupil, had to miss three days of lessons while waiting for his burns to heal, and still has not been able to return to his regular sporting activities.
Louise said: "Ethan is quite anxious that he's not been able to take part in school sports - his football, his basketball. He's not been able to do any of them.
"He's very nervous, he's frightened the attackers are going to find him. Usually he goes out every day with his mates on their bikes or their scooters, or he's out doing one of his sports. He's not one to sit on the Xbox. So this has set him back a lot."
She added that she had reported the incident to Cheshire police - but had been informed that CCTV covering the park had not been in operation when her son was attacked.
"I'm angry about the whole situation," she said. "Ethan has got a heart of gold. He'd do anything for anyone. He's the one who looks after his mates if they're getting picked on.
"I don't think (police) are going to find anything out, which is very frustrating, because there are other kids that are vulnerable. If they're attacked, nothing has been done to prevent it."
A Cheshire police spokesman said: "At sometime between 4pm and 4.30pm on Thursday, March 16, officers were made aware that an 11-year-old boy had been assaulted from behind by unknown offenders in Orford Park. As a result of the impact, it is believed the boy fell to the ground and lost consciousness. When he awoke, he returned home. The next day he was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries to his face and hands.
"Due to time that had passed, specialists were unable identify what had caused the injuries however further enquiries established they have not been deliberately caused by any liquid."
Enquiries remain ongoing and anyone with information is asked to report it to Cheshire Police via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/police-forces/cheshire-constabulary/areas/cheshire/about-us/about-us/provide-more-information-about-an-appeal/ quoting IML 1502463 or call 101.
