Medical personnel arrive at the hospital with the victim following the incident.
KUCHING: A man is in critical condition after he inexplicably doused himself with kerosene and set himself on fire at his residence in Kampung Tabuan Melayu here on Monday.
The 10pm incident is said to have left the 48-year-old victim, a general worker, with serious burns on his upper torso and face.
A family member said prior to the incident, the victim had woken up from sleep and headed outside his house without saying a word.
It was there where he was believed to have poured the flammable liquid over himself and set himself ablaze.
His son found him in flames on the ground in front of the house and immediately put out the fire before seeking help from fellow villagers.
The victim was then taken to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further treatment.
The family member further said that no one had any idea as to what triggered the victim’s action.
District police chief ACP Abang Ahmad Abang Julai, who confirmed the case when contacted yesterday, said
initial investigation pointed to the victim having an argument with his elder sister earlier in the evening.
He added that doctors reported the victim as suffering 60 per cent burns and is currently still unconscious.
Police have classified the case as attempted suicide under Section 309 of the Penal Code.