*A high schooler football star is disfigured and ‘unrecognizable’ after taking part in a dangerous TikTok challenge.
As The Daily Mail reports, the challenge calls for participants to use a lighter and spray can to create a makeshift blowtorch. Mason Dark, 16, was attempting to do just that over the weekend when the can of spray paint he was holding exploded.
The boy was burned on over 75% of his body. His family said he jumped into a river immediately after playing the foolish game to soothe the burn pains.
“He is unrecognizable, unrecognizable,” said Holli Dark, the boy’s mom, WRAL News reports.
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The Heritage High School student is hospitalized at the UNC Burn Center and recovering from burns on nearly 80% of his body.
“They all heard a big boom, and then Mason came running out and [he] started taking off his shirt,” Dark said.
“[We] come to find out now from the surgery, that he’s got the third-degree burns … it’s like a T in his back and it was from him taking off his shirt, and then it got stuck or something,” Dark shared.
“We did not find out until yesterday that it was actually 76% of his body,” Dark said.
Mason had skin graft surgery as part of his long healing journey. He is expected to remain in the UNC Burn Center for at least six months.
“It is challenges on TikTok,” Dark said. “I guess kids have been doing this a long time.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to cover Mason’s medical costs.
“My son Mason, needs your prayers. 75% of his body is burned. The accident occurred the afternoon of Sunday, April 23, 2023. He jumped into a river to extinguish the flames,” a message on the campaign page states. “The risk of infection from the river water is high, on top of having 2nd and 3rd degree burns. We are thankful to be at the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill. It is one of the top in the nation. Mason has a long road ahead of him. Please pray for his recovery. He is in an incredible amount of pain and is sedated.”
Mason had his first round of “many surgeries” on April 26.
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