Disabled man turned himself into human fireball (From Daily Echo)
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Disabled man turned himself into human fireball
1:17pm Wednesday 9th January 2008 in News
Michael Toye
A HAMPSHIRE disabled man died after turning himself into a human fireball to prove a point, an inquest has heard.
The court in Winchester heard that 43-year-old Michael Toye doused himself in white spirit and set fire to himself at his home in Simmons Close, Hedge End.
The incident happened after Mr Toye had a drunken discussion with his friend 18-year-old Paul Deacon in which he argued that white spirit was not flammable.
Mr Toye suffered from serious burns to his chest, thighs and arms and died six days later in Odstock Hospital, Salisbury.
The coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of misadventure and said he believed that Mr Toye did not know the consequences of his actions on April 12 last year.
