JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 20 (UPI) -- A Jacksonville, Fla., man was hospitalized in critical condition Friday following a freak accident involving a lawn mower that was missing a gas cap.
Jim Paige, 51, was severely burned by a fire that started after the mower he was riding on flipped over and spilled gasoline on him, The Jacksonville Times-Union reported.
Paige's companion told authorities Paige hitched the riding mover to his 1959 Chevy in an attempt to tow the car to another part of the yard when the accident occurred.
The paper said in addition to scorching Paige, flames from the fire reached leaves on a tree some 20 feet above the ground.
"He looked like a stunt man during a flame show," Raymond Davis, who witnessed the accident, told the Times-Union.
The newspaper said Paige had burns over about 40 percent of his body.
