What could this be? Panicking a little

[Muchadobird]

My son (10) was just sat on sofa and about for me to come and he’s covered in some sort of yellowish foamy/sandy substance. Pic attached. Cannot figure out what this can be?!
for context, son been there for past hour, just reading. The substance is all in his hair and covering his body and clothing from head to foot. When he stood up there was a mark/outline where he’d been sat as though the substance fell on his or originated on him. He’s showered and washed his hair. I’ve throughly hoovered sofa- the substance was difficult to Hoover out in one go, took a few goes over to get it all up. There nothing on the ceiling above where he was at- it’s all smooth, clean and white. Google reverse image search and general google is unhelpful. Anyone seen this before and any clue?

Did the dog chew a toy, cushion or something else?

It is prime pollen season in NZ at the moment - over the peak for pine but everything else is ramping up. Anybody doing pruning nearby?

Ok here’s what I think 🤔
the foam in your sofa has disintegrated/been chewed by mice. Your son then went and plonked himself down heavily on the damaged area. So heavily that he created a slight puff and caused a bit of a cloud that covered him and but was protected by his body thus causing the shape around him! He didn’t notice any of this happening as it was still in the air when he sat and was too busy reading his book to notice it coming down and settling.
this is v similar to what happened to a friend of mine. Oh plus while she was sitting on the settee 2 little mice popped their heads up from between the cushions. When my friend stopped screaming she checked out the damage and she was amazed Basically these cute mice were eating the sofa from inside out! 🥴 hope that helps

Just an update but still no firm conclusion…
I checked the sofa cushions (have removable covers) but they are all intact and the sofa is less than a year old so I would have been surprised if it was this.
I reckon it was one of three things-

1. my son did break a squashie toy (he has plenty of them) and didn’t notice or want to admit it, although he swears blind he didn’t.
2. it may have been from his rashie top- which was that colour yellow and quite old. I wonder if some of the surface rubbed off as the top was quite rough to the feel. Doesn’t really explain the sheer volume of stuff and how it all got in his hair. I’ve now chucked the top.
3. somehow a puffball spore or big pollen lump got caught in his hair on our walk and later exploded.

anyway I’ve calmed down as it’s two days later and no more has appeared and no one’s got ill!

I think breaking the squishy toy is the most plausible answer.

But, why were you panicking?

I love the description of where you live, sounds lovely, completely off topic I know 😂

Looks like a tissue or paper even been in the washing machine with clothes and it’s all over the new clothes he’s put on

Yes because of how scared he was when he first came to me. And seeing him covered head to toe in weird yellow sand/pollen like stuff was a very odd sight. I was worried it was something poisonous that might require intervention of some sort.

Ha! It is rather lovely I have to admit. Am very lucky.
but I’m originally from the uk and that has some equally lovely parts.

Squishie toy or stress ball/toy would have been my guess. Seen that sort of substance come from those before.