Elderly bedridden man may have been burnt alive

An elderly bedridden man may have been burnt alive when his house caught fire in Ta' Majza Alley, in Nadur, yesterday.

Francis Said was a heavy smoker and had gas and electric heaters in his bedroom, sources said. It is likely the fire was started by a discarded cigarette or a heater.

His family spent a lot of time by the 79-year-old, who, however, lived on his own. His son had left the house shortly before the fire broke out, having spent the night there.

The police said they were informed of the fire in the morning and drove to the house together with firemen and paramedics. After extinguishing the flames, they walked in to inspect the house and found the elderly man lying lifeless in bed.

The fire appeared to have been accidental, the sources said.

An autopsy on Mr Said's body will determine whether he was indeed burnt alive or died before the house caught fire.

The last time a person was burnt alive was on September 19 last year, when a 27-year-old man crashed against a tree in Is-Sebħ Street, Qormi and lost consciousness before the car caught fire.

Firemen extinguished the fire shortly afterwards, finding Michael Grech's lifeless body at the wheel.