Friend Burns 12-Year-Old Boy As Part Of Social Media Challenge

A 12-year-boy from Dearborn suffered second and third-degree burns, as he and his friend attempted to do the 'fire challenge' that is famous on social media.

Jason Cleary suffered second and third-degree burns after his friend set him on fire as part of the social media challenge. He was sprayed with nail polish remover and set on fire as part of the challenge.

"The first time it was like a little tiny fire, then they swatted it out," Jason told WDIV. However, on the second attempt, the flames flared up, burning him severely. According to Jason, his friends kept spraying nail polish remover on him while they set fire the second time.

His mother Tabitha Cleary, rushed Jason to the hospital after hearing him scream outside.

"So we came running out. That's when we saw his friend Bryce riding him on the bike with no shirt on," Cleary told WDIV. "I start to freak out. 'Take him to the hospital, take him to the hospital.' I'm crying. He's crying."

Jason suffered burns on his chest, stomach, and chin. He was hospitalized for four days before being discharged. He is recuperating at home currently.

The fire challenge isn’t new and has been around since 2010 on social media, with other dangerous pranks. Last year a 12-year-old Detroit girl suffered 49 percent burns, most of them second and third degree, after attempting the challenge.

Youtube had pointed out the fire challenge and “Tide pod challenge” as examples in January this year when it announced its moves to crack down on harmful challenges and prank videos that were uploaded to the platform.

Jason’s mother has warned others who were attempting similar social media challenges, about the dangers involved in it.

"I just want everybody to know that these challenges, or whatever they’re watching on YouTube, is not worth risking your life. My son got burned second-degree — and it could have been way worse," she told the station.