Thai man, 21, undergoing relationship troubles sets himself on fire on busy Bangkok road

After a heated phone call, a 21-year-old Thai man set himself ablaze in Bangkok's Chatuchak district, shocking bystanders and motorists.

The man was still "alive and moving" but covered in severe burns after passers-by rushed to help put out the fire.

The incident, which took place around 10am on Sep. 30, was caught on surveillance camera.

Doused himself with petrol

In a newsreel by 3 Plus News, the man, who appeared to be wearing a black hoodie and long pants, was seen standing idly behind a bus stop.

According to Bangkok Post, the bus stop was in front of the Land Development Department office in Chatuchak district, near Sena Nikhom BTS station.

The man looked around in his vicinity as he held onto a yellow container.

He bends over for awhile before making himself upright again with the yellow container in front of his chest.

He appeared to pause for awhile before beginning to empty the container's contents over himself down his shoulder and back.

He then dropped the container on the ground, looked down and briefly paused once more.

The newsreel then cuts to when the man was already ablaze, where he could be seen dropping to the ground before running out towards the roadway.

Collapsed on the road

Citing 3 Plus News, Bangkok Post wrote that the man startled two university students who were at the bus stop.

When he ran onto the road, he collided with a motorcyclist, which caused the rider to fall to the ground, Thai Examiner reported.

Passers-by put out fire

The driver of a white sedan pulled over nearby and tried to put out the flame with a cloth, while a security guard rushed over from across the street with a fire extinguisher.

Around two minutes later, the fire was put out, but not before leaving the man with severe burns.

One eye witness, Miang, shared that the man had been sitting quietly behind the bus stop before suddenly setting himself on fire, according to Thai Examiner.

"I turned and saw him on fire, screaming," Miang said.

The security guard, Wee, 47, saw the flame from across the road and instinctively reached for the fire extinguisher.

"When I sprayed at him with the fire extinguisher, he was still alive and moving, but his body was covered in burns and his clothes were almost gone," the 47-year-old security guard said, according to Thaiger.

Emergency responders arrived shortly after and the man was taken while unconscious to the hospital.

Police later discovered an almost-empty, six litre fuel container at the scene along with a yellow lighter beside it.

Relationship issues

One eye witness told police that prior to setting himself on fire, the man had a heated phone conversation with someone.

His mother later revealed that the 21-year-old had relationship issues with his girlfriend recently, which police suspect might be a reason for the man's act.

As of Sep. 30 afternoon, the man remained in critical condition and was still unconscious, Thai Examiner reported.

Bangkok police are waiting for the man's condition to stabilise before conducting interviews to further investigations.

Top image via 3 Plus News / YouTube, amarintv