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© Fulham ChronicleEmergency services at Shepherd's Bush Green, London, where a man is thought to have set himself alight.
Witnesses have described their horror at seeing a man engulfed in flames on Shepherd's Bush Green on Thursday morning.

Bystanders said the man was a 'walking fireball' and 'head-to-toe' in flames before ambulances and fire crews rushed to the scene and helped douse them.

He was taken to hospital and, at this stage, it is not clear whether he survived his injuries.

It is believed the man doused himself in petrol at the BP garage by the Green before setting himself on fire and walking on to the park itself.

Pablo Jenkins, 29, was driving his daughter to nursery with his girlfriend when he noticed fire out of the corner of his eye. His disbelief turned to horror and then worry as he feared not only for the man's life but also that he could walk back to the petrol station and cause an explosion.

He said: "I pulled out of Rockley Road and saw flames. When we saw it was a person on fire we couldn't believe it at first. We stopped at a red light and saw him thrashing around. I thought it may have been a stunt man but then he dropped to the ground and was still. It looked like he had died but then he got back up.

"He was literally covered in flames from head-to-toe. There was a fire ball to the side of him as well. You couldn't make out any of his features. I had the window open but there was utter silence, He wasn't screaming."

After the lights turned green Mr Jenkins phoned police and ambulance and his thoughts turned to the possibility of a further disaster.

"I knew I had to call paramedics as soon as possible but I was also worried he might walk to the petrol station and blow the place up. Within minutes there were several ambulances, fire trucks and police. I didn't see what happened after that."

Other people described what they saw on Twitter, including @craziart who said: "Witnessed someone burn himself in shepherd bush park (sic).. Within 5 minutes.. 3 fire trucks, 3 police cars and an ambulance come to rescue."

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "Police were called at approximately 8am to reports of man on fire.

"London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service also attended. The man is believed to be in his 40s and was taken to a west London hospital where his condition is unknown."

She added detectives aren't looking to speak to anyone else about the incident.

More as we get it...