Isle of Wight Man Critical After Burns

22 March 2010, 09:16 | Updated: 22 March 2010, 17:13

Police are continuing to investigate how a man received burns on the Isle of Wight.

He approached staff working at a Sainsbury’s store in Cowes High Street to ask for help at around 2.15am this morning, Monday, March 22, 2010.

The 42-year-old local man said he had been involved in a fire.

The man was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Newport on the Isle of Wight and is being transferred to a specialist burns unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead in West Sussex. The NHS described his condition as critical but stable this morning.

An area outside the Sainsbury’s store in Cowes High Street was sealed off for several hours this morning whilst police completed initial inquiries at the scene. The area is now open again.

Detectives from Isle of Wight CID are keeping an open mind about what has happened, but there is nothing at this stage to suggest any suspicious circumstances or an assault on this man.

Police are working with the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to establish if any recent fires could be connected to the man’s injuries. Police scenes of crime officers and staff are carrying out forensic inquiries at a derelict bungalow on Princes Esplanade in Cowes where a fire was reported during the early hours of this morning.

Anyone with information is asked to phone Isle of Wight CID on 101. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call 0845 045 45 45.