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PATIENTS and staff fled in terror yesterday after a man set himself on fire at a hospital.

The victim doused himself with an accelerant then set himself alight after attending an appointment at a clinic at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Onlookers doused the flames and he was taken to the hospital’s casualty unit.

A source said: “He was seen coming from the direction of one of the clinics and he has then set himself on fire in the foyer of the building.

“The man was fully alight, with the flames covering most of his body, before people got to him with towels.

“It was like something out of the movies, with people in disbelief at what was happening. It was quite horrific.

“There were patients and children very close to him, not to mention staff, and one bystander was right next to him with what appeared to be her baby twins.

“He has obviously been deeply troubled to do something like this.

“Hopefully he will pull through.

“Thankfully no one else was injured, which is a piece of extreme good fortune in the circumstances.”

The building was evacuated after the incident happened and all appointments scheduled for the afternoon were put off.

Our source said: “People were told there had been an incident and that everything would be back on track by the following day.

“In the event, the building was reopened by 3.30pm.

“A small area remained cordoned off behind medical screens, with towels on the floor at the spot where the man had been treated.”

Further details on the man’s identity where not being released last night.

A source said he sustained serious burns in the incident although his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.