Police Injured Saving Man Who Set Himself Alight

Two firearms officers have been injured after using their own bodies to save a man who set himself alight.

Surrey Police said a 23-year-old man had been arrested on Wednesday night following a serious incident in Horseshoe Lane, during which a baton round was discharged.

The firearms officers were then forced to stun the man so they could approach him and smother the flames using their hands and bodies after he doused himself in petrol and set himself alight

The man had threatened to attack fellow residents and stab the officers before running into woodland with a can of petrol and a lighter.

The officers were treated at Royal Surrey County Hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns to their hands and were released this morning.

The 23-year-old, who has not been named, was also treated for minor burns.

Upon discharge from hospital, he was arrested on suspicion of affray.

A Surrey police spokesman said: "A full investigation into the circumstances is underway and a firearms post-incident procedure has been initiated to review the actions taken."

Chief Inspector Chris Shead said: "This man posed a significant threat to himself, other members of the public and police officers.

"Officers put themselves at significant risk to stop the fire spreading, putting out the man with their own bodies."

Baton rounds are a specially designed less-lethal impact round, made of a plastic compound.

They are fired from specialised single-shot baton launcher.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, a man is fighting for his life after setting himself on fire outside a refugee office.

The incident happened on the street outside the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on Lower Mount Street in Dublin around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The 30 year-old Indian man is said to be in a critical condition in hospital. Onlookers claim the man doused himself with a combustive fuel and lit it with a match.

See: Man Sets Himself On Fire In Dublin

(DS)