1976-08-30 Page 3 bottom.jpg

Title

1976-08-30 Page 3 bottom.jpg

Creator

Daily Mirror

Contributor

Phil (the Owl) Harris

Text

The fire is out - and John is given first-aid‘ before being rushed to hospital.


By Gordon Hughes

THESE are the moments of horror a Bank Holiday crowd missed.

When a stuntman‘s thrilling performance became terrifyingly real.

Big John Ham was playlng the part of a monk at a medieval display yesterday.

Five thousand people watched as his habit was set alight.

They gasped. as he raced away, screaming, with flames leaping 6ft. above his head.

But the spectators didn‘t know that 28-year old John's " blazing monk" stunt had gone terribly wrong.

At rehearsals his burning clothes were put out in seconds. But this time the flames had too great a hold.

John stumbled in agony behind the make-shift scenery and members of the cast fought to beat out the blaze on his back, arms and neck.

They rolled him on the ground and doused him with water.

Ambulance men gave him first-aid, and he was rushed to hospital with severe burns.

Mike Sullivan. an official at Park Hall leisure centre, Charnock Richard, Lancs. said later: “None of the
crowd realised the danger as it was happening."

"It is believed that today too much white spirit was put on his clothing.

“The result was just too realistic."