Search for woman customer after girl, 8, suffers second-degree burns from coffee spill

An eight-year-old girl suffered second-degree burns after a female customer accidentally spilled piping-hot coffee when they collided in a Cafe de Coral branch in Tseung Kwan O on Friday night.

The girl's father is appealing to the woman who caused his daughter's injuries to come forward.

The incident took place at Choi Ming Shopping Centre at about 6.30pm when the girl was waiting for a takeaway meal with her grandmother. A woman was carrying hot coffee on a tray, but the drink splashed all over the girl's head when they collided.

The grandmother called police, but the woman quickly left the scene after the incident.

The girl was taken to Tseung Kwan O Hospital that night with second-degree burns to her forehead, face and arms.

She was later transferred to Hong Kong Children's Hospital for medical treatment.

Police have classified the case as a person injured in an accident. No one has been arrested so far.

The girl's father, Lam, wrote on Facebook, asking if anyone in the restaurant witnessed the incident and recognized the customer.

He uploaded two photos of his daughter with her injuries, covered in plastic wrap.

Lam said that his daughter could not sleep that night at the hospital and is wearing a protective gown.

He said he was worried that his daughter would be disfigured.

Lam believes his daughter and the female customer did not have any dispute and that it was not intentional.

However, he was angry that the woman left before police and ambulance arrived.

"She had no reason to walk away. She should bear her responsibility," he said.

Lam visited the fast-food branch on the weekend where someone told him the woman was about 40 years old, but no one could provide more details. He requested the restaurant to check their CCTV to try to identify the woman, but was told that the CCTV has been out of order since April.

Lam said he wants to seek compensation and justice for his daughter through a civil claim.

Cafe de Carol replied to media inquiries that the company was saddened and concerned by the incident.

The eatery said that it will cooperate with the police investigation and keep in touch with the girl's family.

"Police had requested the branch to check the relevant footage, but the branch's surveillance camera was waiting for a maintenance check and it could not record what happened," it said.

Hundreds of web users commented to the Facebook post, with many people hoping the woman will be found soon, and wished the girl speedy recovery.

One suggested to check the CCTV footage of the shopping mall and request for transaction records during that time, so authorities could track the woman.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com