Patient set self on fire after lighting a cigarette while receiving oxygen in South Cyprus

A patient who was being treated in a hospital in south Cyprus for respiratory problems caused panic and was left injured after lighting a cigarette while being given oxygen.

The patient was being treated for respiratory problems when he lit a cigarette while being given oxygen and was injured after the oxygen ignited.

Nurses immediately noticed the incident and rushed to shut off the oxygen and put out the fire, while the patient sustained minor burns to his face and neck.

The patient is currently in the intensive care unit on a ventilator after he also suffered from smoke inhalation.

Where the patient obtained the cigarette is not known. It was stated that it was only because the fire was quickly extinguished that a major disaster had been prevented.

The man had initially been admitted to hospital for pulmonary problems.