A mum says her son suffered 'chemical burns' after an unprovoked attack in a park.
Ethan Warburton, 11, was walking through Orford Park in Warrington, Cheshire at around 4.30pm on Thursday, March 16 when he was struck from behind, punched and kicked by two unknown males.
The shock assault knocked the schoolboy unconscious, and he woke to find his face, hands and legs covered in painful blisters - leaving his mother fearing he had been burnt by some form of chemical.
Describing the incident, 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, because they got him from behind. But he suffered burns to his face, his hands and the back of his legs.
He was taken to Warrington A&E, where he remained from 7pm on until 4am on Saturday, March 18. Later that day Ethan was admitted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where he received treatment for chemical burns.
Police say further enquiries by medical specialists established that the injuries were not deliberately caused by any liquid.
Ethan, a pupil at Birchwood Community High School, had to miss three days of lessons while waiting for his burns to heal. He is yet to return to his regular sporting activities, something which his mum says has left him "anxious".
She added: "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."
Louise confirmed she had reported the incident to Cheshire police, but had been informed that CCTV covering the park had not been operational at the time of the attack.
"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 quoting IML 1502463 or call 101.
