A mother has warned parents about a dangerous social media trend after her 11-year-old daughter suffered burns to her eye when a squishy cube bought from Tesco exploded. Gina Rowe was eating in the living room with her family when she heard screaming from the kitchen and found her daughter Scarlet with 'glittery slime' across her face.
Scarlet had heated the squishy cube in the microwave for 10 seconds to make it more malleable, following a viral trend she had seen online. The toy exploded, showering her face with molten goo. 'She turned her face and I saw the glittery slime stuff. I thought the squishy had popped. She was screaming 'it's burning',' said Gina.
Scarlet was taken to University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock, where doctors treated burns around her left eye. She may need a skin graft in the future. 'We don't know if she'll be scarred, we just have to wait to see how it heals,' her mother said.
Gina, from Irvine, Ayrshire, is now urging other parents to be aware of such trends. 'Don't be naive in thinking your kid won't do it. It happens in the blink of an eye.' She has banned squishy toys from her home.
Tesco expressed regret over the incident and reminded parents to read safety information. The toy manufacturer, One for Fun, said it will add a 'Do Not Heat' warning to all similar products as an additional precaution, stressing the toys are not designed for microwaving.
