United Kingdom - Mathew Donegan was just another face along a residential street - until he exploded in a ball of fire.

Shocked motorists and pedestrians rushed to aid the stricken Donegan, 26, who in a split second, was turned into a human torch.

Coming to his aid, several citizens rolled him on the ground to extinguish the flames, but not before he suffered second and third degree burns on half of his upper body.

Police who investigated the scene say it’s possible Donegan may have been somewhere, previous to the accident, where his clothing may have absorbed flammable vapors.

“But we have no real idea why a man walking down the street should suddenly burst into flames,” said officer Malcolm Simmonds of the Westbury police department.

Horrified witnesses told investigators that Donegan had just struck a match, to light a cigarette, when the entire top half of his body was engulfed in flames.

“I couldn’t believe my eye,” said Geoffrey Tyson, who was across the street from Donegan. “You couldn’t see anything from his waist up except fire. He was screaming for someone to help him. He was dashing about the road in a ball of flames.”

Several people ran to help and rolled him on the ground to put out the fire.

Donegan was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol in serious condition.

“There is no evidence at this time that the young man intentionally set himself on fire,” said Simmonds.

The accident is still under investigation.