Man burns after soaking himself in methylated spirit

Police are investigating an incident in Garissa’s Iftin after a man set himself on fire after being duped by his nurse friend to soak himself in methylated spirit.

Mohamud Haret, a native of Iftin’s Kora Kora neighborhood, had accompanied a patient to Mukono Hospital. He naively asked the medic if the methylated spirit he had seen at the desk would burn him.

According to the National Police Service (NPS), Haret believed the nurse and put the tingling liquid on his skin after the nurse joked that if his friend doused himself in the liquid and struck a matchstick given, he would precisely answer his friend’s question.

“He then lit himself up only to realise the mess he was in when the lit fire engulfed him could hardly be contained,” the police said.

It is a criminal offense, according to NPS, to cause others to commit hurt and injuries to themselves. Aiding is such a serious crime that if an act causes considerable harm, the consequences can be severe, perhaps leading to life imprisonment.

“We urge the public to desist from dangerous acts that may inflict harm to themselves, and those around them,” the authorities added.

He was sent to Ghal Private Hospital for additional treatment, according to police, who also stated that reckless activity could result in a prison sentence.