Horror as 9-year-old boy is left in unbearable pain after burning 70 percent of his body in viral 'fire challenge'

A nine-year-old boy was left in unbearable pain after burning 70 percent of his body in a viral 'fire challenge.'

The unidentified child 'is lucky to be alive' after participating in the social media challenge, said New Orleans Fire Department Chief Roman Nelson in a video spreading awareness about the dangerous stunt.

The chief, alongside New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, described the challenge as children dousing themselves in flammable substances, then lighting themselves on fire to see how fast they can put out the flames.

'It's very dangerous. It is not fun, and it is not funny,' Kirkpatrick said in the video.

The superintendent urged children not to take part in the gimmick, adding that their lives are not worth it.

'Parents, pay attention. Talk to your kids about the dangers of this challenge and other extreme behaviors seen on social media,' said Nelson.

'New Orleans, let's protect our kids because fire is unpredictable and every life is precious,' the officials added.

The dangerous challenge has made rounds on social media for years, with platforms such as Facebook previously announcing they would remove such videos.

In 2014, a North Carolina mother was arrested after allegedly assisting her 16-year-old son as he set himself on fire.

Janie Talley, 41, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile after police said she filmed her son as he doused himself in fingernail polish remover on July 29 and set himself on fire.

The boy sustained minor burns on his chest and neck as other people watching his stunt-gone-wrong managed to put out the flames.

'[Talley] was present and aware of what her son (was) doing and facilitated the recording,' police said in a statement following Talley's arrest.

Her arrest came after a days-long investigation that began when social services officials were tipped off about the video, which was posted to Facebook despite the boy's injuries.

Police reviewed the footage, which led to Talley's arrest, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Four years later, a 12-year-old girl from Detroit burned 49 percent of her body in the bizarre trend.

Timiyah Landers performed the challenge in front of two friends at her home in Detroit, Michigan, after her mother had made them pancakes.

Within minutes of her mother leaving the girls alone, there was a 'loud explosion' and Timiyah became engulfed in flames.

Her stepfather put her in the bath and immediately began spraying water on her body while her mother tore off her burning clothes.

Timiyah was put on a ventilator in intensive care and bandaged from head to her knees. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the New Orleans Fire Department for comment.