Two people remain in hospital almost a month after a man was seen 'on fire' in the road near a barber shop.
Four casualties were taken to hospital following the terrifying broad daylight incident, which happened on Stamfordham Road in Westerhope, Newcastle on the the morning of May 23.
Two suffered serious injuries and today remain in the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
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The Chronicle understands that rumours have been circulating that a man had died in the incident, but Northumbria Police has confirmed this is not the case.
Shocked residents told the Chronicle they heard shouting and witnessed a “man on fire” lying in the road.
One said at the time: “We heard screaming and footsteps and saw a man lying in the road. There were people trying to help.”
Another said they witnessed a passing lorry driver jump out of their vehicle and use a fire extinguisher on a person lying in the road.
They added: “The lorry driver was the first one there trying to help. He’d grabbed a fire extinguisher from the lorry and was trying to help a man who was on fire in the road. Lots of people quickly came to help.”
Police, paramedics, fire crews and the Great North Air Ambulance Service all attended the incident.
Crews from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) were on the scene in four minutes and gave emergency first aid to two people outside the building.
Northumbria Police said it was treating the incident as a "suspected arson" and forensic officers were later seen investigating the area, where debris lay in the road.
The Chronicle understands the investigation is ongoing.
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