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Man dead after running into flames at Burning Man festival

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Nevada festival attendee broke through safety perimeters late Saturday, airlifted to burn treatment centre

A man died after running into the flames of the Burning Man festival's signature effigy fire in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada this weekend. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

A man who ran into flames at the Burning Man festival's signature burning ceremony has died, according to a Nevada sheriff.

Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen says the man ran through a human-chain of security officers late Saturday during the Man Burn event at the counter-culture festival.

The sheriff says the man was rescued by firefighters and later died at the UC Davis hospital burn centre in California after being airlifted.

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About 70,000 people are enjoying the art and music celebration in the Black Rock Desert, about 16 kilometres north of Reno.

The nine-day event culminates with the burning of a towering 12-metre effigy made of wood.

Attendees have tried to run into the flames as a symbol of rebirth. Festival organizers didn't immediately respond when asked for comment.

Burning Man ends Monday.