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A man is in a critical condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital after a fire in a public toilet in Hastings yesterday.
Emergency services were called to the public toilets and removed the 41-year-old man from inside.
Local cafe staff raced outside after hearing a huge explosion beside their shop.
Cafe Sutto staff member Cherie Bardell told Fairfax they heard
screams from the toilet and "another big bang" before the toilet
door flew open.
"There was a real inferno inside, there were flames everywhere and
we just couldn't go in there to help him. It was a horrible
sight."
Cafe owner Graeme Smith told Fairfax there were flames leaping
from the roof of the toilet.
"The girls were pretty good and we just did everything we could
do," he said of his staff that helped put the fire out with a fire
extinguisher.
"We got the fire out, that's the main thing. We hope we saved the
guy's life ... he locked himself in there."
Police have commended the actions of the owner and staff of Cafe' Sutto who were first on the scene. Police say their actions were heroic and they put themselves in harm's way in a bid to save the man.
Other members of the public also came to aid police in removing the man from the toilet.
Police said initial indications are that the fire was deliberately lit. The man is the only person involved.
They are investigating and following up with his family.
Police want to hear from a fourth person who also assisted, but left the area before speaking to them.
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