Metropolitan police officers quickly tried to extinguish the flames covering a man in Islington after responding to a call on Friday 13.
Horrified bystanders were heard shouting in a video that has been circulated around social media.
The officers were called to the scene of a domestic row at a home in North Road where the situation dramatically escalated.
The footage shared by London & UK Street News on X shows the man with his hands held above his head before falling to his knees as bright orange flames engulf him.
Both the police officers and the surrounding public screamed in horror as smoke billowed out into the street.
He was later taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries after being doused in foam from the fire extinguisher. A man in the video was seen calling for more water to minimise the flames as another officer also tried to remove his jacket.
“Police were called at approximately 09:25hrs on Friday, December 13, to reports of a domestic disturbance at an address in North Road, N7,” a Met Police spokesperson told The Mirror.
“Officers attended and found a man in the street who then set himself alight. Officers, along with members of the public put the flames out. The London Ambulance Service and London Fire brigade also attended the scene.
“The man was taken to hospital, his condition is not life-threatening or life-changing. His next of kin are aware. An officer was also treated at hospital for minor burns and has since been discharged.
“The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed. Due to police being in attendance when the man sustained his injuries, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
“We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, an incident response officer, and London’s air ambulance,” a London Ambulance Service spokesperson told The Mirror. “We treated two people before taking them to hospital.”
