Just like the stuntmen on TV 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
The plan seemed simple enough. Light himself on fire, ride his BMX in a spectacular fireball off the roof of the park toilet block, land safely and pat out the flames to the cheers and adulation of the adoring crowd. Unfortunately, it went wrong in almost every respect.
The unnamed man put on about ten layers of clothing, doused himself in petrol, and asked his young son (about 12, by appearances) to set him alight. At this point he pedalled furiously for the makeshift jump set up on the lip of the roof, aiming for a pitiful-looking (and no doubt highly flammable) pile of cushions and mattresses on the ground three metres below. As it happens, their utility and flammability were entirely academic, as he missed the pile by about half a metre. Luckily for him, he landed on a non-vital area - his head.
He had shown some foresight (but very little understanding of petrol fires) by having a barrel of water and rags waiting for him on the ground. However, at this point he panicked and began running around in circles. By this time, however, police and ambulance were already on the scene, and he was quickly extinguished and bundled off to hospital with nothing but a few burns and fractures. A bit of a disappointment really, after he tried so hard...
Full Story:
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7687900%255E662,00.html
an risks death in BMX stunt gone wrong
ichelle Cazzulino
28oct03
THESE graphic images depict a man embarking on a dangerous stunt that could have cost him his life.
Aided by a boy who witnesses identified as his son, the 39-year-old Sydney man set himself alight before climbing on to a BMX bike and cycling off the roof of a park toilet block on Sunday night.
Taken by local resident Luke Murphy, 28, the pictures show the man preparing himself for the jump after urging his son to pour petrol all over him and allowing the boy to ignite his clothing with a cigarette lighter.
According to members of the 40-strong crowd that watched the failed stunt, the man then cycled across a plank of wood that he had rested on two milk crates, becoming airborne when he reached the end of the 5m high toilet block.
Although he had intended his fall to be broken by foam mattresses placed in front of the building, the man missed them by about half a metre and fell on his head, his body still alight.
His son, who onlookers said looked about 12, watched his father fall from the top of the toilet block. He reportedly videotaped the jump.
r Murphy said he believed the prank had been planned.
"Apparently he was down at the skate park earlier in the day just to tell everyone down there that he was going to do it," he said.
"I got a call from some friends saying some guy was going to set himself alight and ride off the toilet, so I got my camera and went to have a look."
Although he had not enlisted anyone else to help douse the flames after the jump, the man had apparently attempted to prepare himself for it, filling a bin with water and rags.
He was also wearing "about 10 layers of clothing including a balaclava and raincoat", Mr Murphy said.
"The guy refused to speak to anyone much before the jump because he said he was too nervous (but) he did say he usually jumps off a smaller ramp and this was the first time he was trying it off something with a bit of height.
"He couldn't have landed any worse than he did -- he landed right on his head.
"When he was actually on fire at the end, he didn't know what to do and you could see him running around and panicking -- there were so many flames.
"It must've been adrenalin that got him up because if he'd stayed down he would've just burned to death."
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said she had arrived at the park after hearing "a big explosion" and seeing police patrolling the area with torches. She was horrified to learn what had happened.
"I thought it might've been the local kids doing something bad, but this is unbelievable," she said.
r Murphy said the police had acted quickly to extinguish the flames, effectively saving the man's life.
The prankster was treated by ambulance officers at the scene before being taken to hospital with burns and several fractures, including a broken nose and wrist.
The man is believed to have undergone surgery late yesterday.
Submitted on 10/28/2003
Submitted by:
Tristan
Reference:
Herald Sun 28 Oct 03
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