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Police use own bodies to save man | Police use own bodies to save man |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two police officers have been treated for burns after smothering flames with their own bodies when a knife-wielding man set himself alight. | |
They had to fire a baton round at the man to stun him before trying to extinguish the fire. | |
He had been cornered at his home in Cranleigh, Surrey, after police were sent to reports of a knife man threatening residents. | |
The man suffered minor burns and was arrested after leaving hospital. | |
'Decisive action' | |
Ch Insp Chris Shead said: "This man posed a significant threat to himself, other members of the public and police officers. | |
"By taking decisive action and discharging a baton round, the firearms officers were able to subdue him - stopping him from further harming himself or other people and allowing officers to quickly administer first aid. | "By taking decisive action and discharging a baton round, the firearms officers were able to subdue him - stopping him from further harming himself or other people and allowing officers to quickly administer first aid. |
"Officers put themselves at significant risk to stop the fire spreading, putting out the man with their own bodies. Without this quick-thinking and selfless act, it is certain he would have suffered much more serious injuries." | "Officers put themselves at significant risk to stop the fire spreading, putting out the man with their own bodies. Without this quick-thinking and selfless act, it is certain he would have suffered much more serious injuries." |
The drama started when two unarmed officers investigated reports of a knife man near Horseshoe Lane. | |
They found a 23-year-old man who threatened to stab the officers and fled into woodland with petrol and a lighter. | |
Armed officers, dog units and the police helicopter were scrambled to search the area before a man was found doused in petrol at the back of his house just after 2300 BST. | |
He was ordered to put down his knife and lighter, but set himself on fire and approached the officers. | |
Separate review | |
The man was shot with a baton round - a bullet made of plastic and fired from a special single-shot launcher. | |
Two officers then smothered the flames with their hands and bodies before using an extinguisher in the surrounding area. | |
The officers were treated at the Royal Surrey County Hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns to their hands, and were discharged. | |
An investigation into the incident is under way, and the force is also conducting a separate review into its use of firearms during the incident. | An investigation into the incident is under way, and the force is also conducting a separate review into its use of firearms during the incident. |