Squid Game craze: Australian child suffers severe burns trying to recreate challenge from Netflix hit

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A child in southern Australia has been hospitalised after suffering serious burns while attempting to participate in a viral TikTok challenge inspired by the Netflix series Squid Game. Squid Game, a Korean-language thriller that is streaming on Netflix, explores a dystopian reality in which a mysterious organisation recruits people in severe debt to compete in a series of deadly children’s games for the chance to win 45.6bn won. Last month, a children’s hospital in Sydney issued a warning against the challenge after three children were admitted for injuries, ranging from mild burns to nerve damage, acquired while handling honeycomb. Earlier this month, Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s specialist burn centre warned families after it noted a worrying increase in the number of young people suffering injuries after attempting to recreate Squid Game challenges.