A teenager described as “deeply traumatised” was severely injured in a brutal petrol attack, leaving him unrecognizable to some of his own family members. Jacob Thompson, aged 19, suffered extensive burns covering 32% of his body, with third-degree wounds on his face, torso, arms, back, and legs after being set on fire in Coonabarabran, a small rural town in New South Wales, Australia, on October 13. The incident was reportedly linked to an ongoing dispute between two families in the area.
According to reports, Jacob was approached by a group of individuals who allegedly poured a liquid on him before igniting it, leading to him being rushed to intensive care after bystanders extinguished the flames. The severity of his injuries was such that his siblings initially struggled to identify him in the hospital.
His family, speaking to the Daily Telegraph in Australia, expressed deep trauma over the vicious assault on Jacob, highlighting the emotional toll it has taken on them all. Jacob, who has been dealing with severe breathing complications and was on life support, has been described as emotionally overwhelmed but maintaining a positive outlook despite the ordeal.
Following the attack where Jacob was allegedly doused in a flammable substance and set ablaze by a man and two women, three individuals were arrested, including a 45-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and a 17-year-old girl who was released pending further investigation.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Jacob’s recovery from the traumatic incident, which caused extensive third-degree burns to a significant portion of his body. The family mentioned that Jacob, who was placed in an induced coma on life support, is now slowly showing signs of improvement, although he continues to face challenges with breathing, eye injuries, and a dislocated shoulder requiring ongoing medical care and support.