A 12-year-old Atlanta girl is currently in treatment and recovering after she attempted to recreate a dangerous TikTok trend called the “Fire Challenge.”
In the video, Kenzie Luckey attempted to do the challenge, which shows users igniting flammable substances on the body and then trying to extinguish the flames before it spreads.
Thankfully, Luckey survived the incident, although the attempt went horribly wrong.
According to Luckey’s family, she was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital moments after the challenge failed. She is now being treated for third-degree burns on her face, arms and torso.
Luckey’s mother, Sheikinah Napper, said the experience has been quite traumatizing for the entire family.
“She says she could smell her skin, and it stinks,” Sheikinah told 11 Alive, adding that “she wakes up in the middle of the night and she’s always screaming out in pain.”
The tween’s mother further added that the challenge backfired when an alcohol bottle she used to create the TikTok video exploded.
“I heard another scream, and it was like bloodcurdling,” Rhema Napper, Luckey’s older sister, said. “Like, it was really bad.”
Rhema said she was the one who saved her sister’s life after she smothered the flames before it was too late.
“I wrap my legs around her. I started rubbing my face on her and I got all the flames off,” she explained.
“She’ll be in the hospital for at least a month,” Sheikinah added. “She’s already had to have two blood transfusions.”
Sheikinah is now advising parents to warn their children about the dangers of doing the “Fire Challenge.”
“Just don’t do everything that you see on there” Rhema cautioned. “It’s not funny. It’s not cute. And it is so dangerous and scary. And it can really change your life. I had never heard of the fire challenge before this incident, and I wish I was more aware.”
