Police use own bodies to save man

Two police officers have been treated for burns after smothering flames with their own bodies when a knife-wielding man set himself alight.

They had to fire a baton round at the man to stun him before trying to extinguish the fire.

He had been cornered at his home in Cranleigh, Surrey, after police were sent to reports of a knife man threatening residents.

The man suffered minor burns and was arrested after leaving hospital.

'Decisive action'

Ch Insp Chris Shead said: "This man posed a significant threat to himself, other members of the public and police officers.

"By taking decisive action and discharging a baton round, the firearms officers were able to subdue him - stopping him from further harming himself or other people and allowing officers to quickly administer first aid.

"Officers put themselves at significant risk to stop the fire spreading, putting out the man with their own bodies. Without this quick-thinking and selfless act, it is certain he would have suffered much more serious injuries."

The drama started when two unarmed officers investigated reports of a knife man near Horseshoe Lane.

They found a 23-year-old man who threatened to stab the officers and fled into woodland with petrol and a lighter.

Armed officers, dog units and the police helicopter were scrambled to search the area before a man was found doused in petrol at the back of his house just after 2300 BST.

He was ordered to put down his knife and lighter, but set himself on fire and approached the officers.

Separate review

The man was shot with a baton round - a bullet made of plastic and fired from a special single-shot launcher.

Two officers then smothered the flames with their hands and bodies before using an extinguisher in the surrounding area.

The officers were treated at the Royal Surrey County Hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns to their hands, and were discharged.

An investigation into the incident is under way, and the force is also conducting a separate review into its use of firearms during the incident.