There are many things I do when drunk. I do become quite cheery. I do become less hacked-off with the state of the world around me and I do crave more beer (!). However, I don't decide the best way to demonstrate the (in)flammability of white spirit by setting myself on fire, farewell then Michael Toye of Salisbury, we'll never remember you ...(from today's Metro):
A drunken man died after setting fire to himself in a fruitless bid to prove white spirit was not flammable, an inquest heard.
Michael Toye doused himself with the fluid during an argument with friend Paul Deacon before putting a cigarette lighter to his trousers.
Mr Deacon said he exttinguished the ensuing flames but was asked not to call for help by Mr Toye, who said: 'I'm all right, I just want a fag and a beer.' They were drinking at Mr Toye's flat on April 12 last year at the time of the dispute.
The 43-year-old applied the white spirit – a derivative of paraffin – while sitting in an armchair and his chest, arms and thighs were soon engulfed by flames.
Mr Deacon threw basins of water over him and wrapped him in a blanket after he refused medical help, the inquest heard. An ambulance took him to a burns unit at Salisbury District Hospital the next morning, but he died six days later from pneummonia caused by his injuries.
A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded by mid-Hampshire coroner Grahame Short.
Toye, from Hedge End, near Southampton, had not understood the consequences of his actions, said Mr Short. 'It was an act of possible bravado,' he added.
