Man sets fire to his head by lighting cigarette after using hairspray

By Sarah Whiteley

Yesterday we brought you the tale of the man who set fire to his home after trying to dry his undies in the microwave; today it's the story of the man who set fire to his own head.

Mechanic Stephen Parsonage was getting ready for a night out when he suffered second degree burns after lighting a cigarette just moments after securing his 'do' with hairspray.

The flames soared to 2ft before the 26-year-old dad from Blackburn, Lancashire, managed to put them out moments before paramedics and firemen arrived at the house.

Stephen was left with burns to his face and hands - not to mention a dented pride.

He said: "I had just finished spraying my hair and as I lit the fag there was a 'whoosh'. The next thing I knew my head was on fire. The pain was intense.

"I had no idea that could happen. When I went to the hospital they laughed at me. I was really embarrassed."

Fire service manager Steve Johnson added: "He had a lucky escape."

It was perhaps not quite the hair raising night Stephen had in mind...

Have you ever had an accident like Stephen's? Tell us in our comments box below.

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