Man accidentally lights himself on fire during high school pep rally
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- A performer at a Florida high school pep rally accidentally set himself on fire in front of hundreds of students, CBS affiliate WPEC reported.
Delray Beach Fire Rescue Capt. Ed Beardsley said the man was part of a performance at Atlantic High's gym Thursday morning. He said the man was rushed to the hospital with burns. Beardsley did not know their severity.
Beardsley said seven students were also hospitalized after breathing fire extinguisher dust. Their injuries were not serious.
ACHS: Hired performer caught fire, suffered burns. Students complained of respiratory difficulty after fire extinguished with extinguisher.
— Delray Beach Fire (@DelrayBeachFire) March 17, 2016
ACHS: all student complaints were respiratory in nature. Only burn victim was adult performer. Patients transported by our crews and @PBCFR.
— Delray Beach Fire (@DelrayBeachFire) March 17, 2016
Video posted online shows the man, reportedly a fire-breathing performer, suddenly being engulfed in flames. He scrambles to the floor and others come to his aid as the video ends.
DUDE JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE AT OUR PEP RALLY!!! ADD ME ON SNAPCHAT KINGSOSA300 pic.twitter.com/trKYFfv7pV
— Anthony (@SolJah13) March 17, 2016
"Right now I'm glad the kids are okay," the mother of a 15-year-old girl who was hospitalized told WPEC. "I don't think it was a wise decision. I'm just glad my daughter is OK."
Palm Beach County Schools spokeswoman Kathy Burstein said the incident happened during a rally for the Florida Standard Assessment testing. Students returned to class following the incident, Burstein said.