Authorities have said that a baby received burns over 40 percent of his body at a British seaside resort while his mother was sunbathing.

The Sun reported on Wednesday that bystanders, on the beach in Brighton, seeing the 5-month-old baby boy badly sunburned, called police and the child was rushed to a local hospital.

The child's mother seemed unconcerned about the child's condition, witnesses have said.

Brighton resident Vicky Gardiner, 25, said, "He was scarlet red and screaming his poor, poor head off. She was walking up and down the beach without any belongings with her, and was wearing a vacant look with a smirk on her face."

Gardiner said, "Somebody went up and told her to protect her baby, but she didn't react at all and carried on walking."

Another witness, said, "Two women community support officers turned up quickly, and took one look at the baby and led the mother and her kiddy away."

The report further noted that the 29-year-old mother, from Southeast London, could face charges of neglect. (With Inputs from Agencies)