Deadly dare: 8-year-old girl dies after drinking boiling water

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – An 8-year-old girl is dead, months after she was injured by drinking boiling water through a straw on a dare, according to WPTV News.

Ki'ari Pope was pronounced dead Monday morning.

Cousin Latoya Johnson said Ki'ari accepted a dare from another cousin in March to drink boiling water, like the kids they said they were watching on a social media video.

"She felt like she's so fearless and can do everything, and she took a big gulp," Latoya said.

Records from state social workers say the boiling water burned her throat and mouth.

She was hospitalized, and Latoya said Ki'ari lost her ability to talk, but kept her spunk, "She can still be like, you know how she feels and what was going on. She still smiled through whatever she went through."

As recently as this past Sunday, July 30, Ki'ari was slowly getting her voice back and seemed to be healthy otherwise.

"It was her cousin's birthday party then she went home and went to sleep and they said she woke up and couldn't breathe," Latoya Johnson said.

The medical examiner hasn't said yet whether Ki'ari's injuries from the boiling water contributed to her death.

READ: Family of 8-year-old responds to additional DCF investigations