Home

Child hospitalised over TikTok’s Squid Game honeycomb challenge

Emily CosenzaNCA NewsWire
The 14-year-old’s burns were so severe he will need to spend the next year in a pressure bandage. Supplied
Camera IconThe 14-year-old’s burns were so severe he will need to spend the next year in a pressure bandage. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

A TikTok craze has left another child in hospital with serious burns after trying to recreate a challenge inspired by the Netflix series Squid Game.

It was revealed on Sunday that the South Australian child was trying to recreate the honeycomb challenge as seen in the popular Netflix series.

In the show, hundreds of adults compete in deadly children’s games for a chance to escape severe debt and win $45.6bn won ($A53bn).

For one particular task, competitors must carve a shape into a piece of Korean Dalgona candy, or honeycomb, without breaking it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The social media challenge derived from the show has resulted in surgeons issuing a warning about the potential dangers of cooking honeycomb.

The viral TikTok challenge is based on a task in Netflix’s Squid Game.
Camera IconThe viral TikTok challenge is based on a task in Netflix’s Squid Game. Credit: News Corp Australia

Burns specialist Amy Jeeves told 7 News that a child presented in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital with a “nasty burn” from the hot mixture.

“You need to heat up the sugar to about 145C,” Dr Jeeves said.

“The contact for the extra hot, sticky liquid is what causes the severe burns.”

It’s not the first time a child has been hospitalised over the challenge.

Just last month three children were admitted to Sydney’s The Children’s Hospital at Westmead with burns from handling hot honeycomb.

All three children require ongoing treatment, with their injuries varying from mild scalds to nerve damage.

A teen burned his hand and received third degree burns to his leg after trying the honeycomb challenge. Supplied
Camera IconA teen burned his hand and received third degree burns to his leg after trying the honeycomb challenge. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia
The 14-year-old’s burns were so severe he will need to spend the next year in a pressure bandage. Supplied
Camera IconThe 14-year-old’s burns were so severe he will need to spend the next year in a pressure bandage. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

One of those patients was 14-year-old Aiden Higgie, from Ryde, who burned his hand and sustained deep burns and nerve damage to his leg.

His mother Helen said doctors feared Aiden would need a skin graft because the burns were so severe and he would need to spend the next year in a pressure bandage.

She said she was in another room when the cup that contained the hot liquid “exploded” in her son’s hand.

“It’s shocking that such a simple act, like making honeycomb, could have such serious consequences,” Ms Higgie said.

“A lot of kids his age are watching Squid Game.

“It’s very popular and Aiden was trying to recreate the honeycomb with the imprint on it. He looked it up on TikTok on how to create it.”

Aiden and Helen Higgie
Camera IconHelen Higgie said her son Aiden was doing a TikTok challenge based on Squid Game’s honeycomb test when he burned himself. Tim Hunter Credit: News Corp Australia

Squid Game is a nine-episode TV series that streamed its first season on Netflix this year.

The thriller was streamed to about 111 million viewers in its first 2½ weeks on the service.

It stars actors Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo and Wi Ha-Joon and is directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk.

Originally published as Child hospitalised over TikTok’s Squid Game honeycomb challenge

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails