A man in his 50s shocked locals after he set himself and his car ablaze in Bookham, Surrey, on Monday afternoon. The incident caused a fiery explosion that rocked Bookham Village.
Police quickly placed Lower Shott on lockdown shortly after midday as flames engulfed the area. Firefighters from Leatherhead and Painshill rushed to the scene following reports of the explosion.
The man had loaded his Ford Focus with large propane gas cans, with many remnants found in the boot and scattered around the vehicle. The intensity of the blaze was so severe that it melted nearby guttering, leaving the street scorched and cordoned off while fire investigators examined the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing the man fall from the burning car, his clothes engulfed in flames, screaming in agony. Emergency crews, including doctors and advanced paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service, treated him for severe third-degree burns at the scene.
He was then airlifted by the Kent and Surrey Air Ambulance to St George’s Hospital for urgent medical care.
A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said: “They were called to Lower Shott car park near the High Street in Bookham at 12.40pm after a report that a man had been found with serious injuries and a car was on fire. A man in his 50s has been airlifted to St George’s Hospital with serious injuries. His next of kin are aware.”
Surrey Police and Surrey Fire Brigade have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the dramatic and dangerous incident. The charred remains of the Ford Focus remain cordoned off as teams continue their inquiry.
More updates will follow as the investigation progresses.
Originally published by UKNIP.
