Rictras Shard
Ghoul
Professional lunatic
I'm right behind you
Posts: 248
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Post by Rictras Shard on Jun 24, 2015 18:22:03 GMT -4
Spontaneous human combustion has been known of for at least three hundred years. It is when a person mysteriously bursts into flames, usually resulting in death. Objects near the victim, such as furniture, are often left relatively undamaged. Some theories as to the cause include alcohol, cigarettes, poor health and ball lightning. Known victims include Henry Thomas, a 73-year-old Wales man in 1980, and Michael Faherty, an Irish man in 2010. You can read about it in more detail here.
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Post by Vincent Van Ghoul on Jun 24, 2015 18:24:08 GMT -4
I'm torn. I know that farts can be set on fire (but for the love of all that's holy, Don't Do It), but I'm not sure any part of the human body can build up enough gasses to completely burn a person.
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Rictras Shard
Ghoul
Professional lunatic
I'm right behind you
Posts: 248
|
Post by Rictras Shard on Jun 24, 2015 18:29:28 GMT -4
Ah, and therein is the mystery. It shouldn't be able to happen, and yet, it apparently does. I remember being bothered by this when I was young. Whenever I read about something bad, I became convinced it was going to happen to me, and burning to death seems like it would be rather unpleasant.
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Post by Vincent Van Ghoul on Jun 24, 2015 18:33:57 GMT -4
The really surprising rate and quantity of which these cases are reported certainly to lend some credibility to the claims. I think that If possible, It would be far more likely to happen in the era prior to the 20th century, given the alcohol connections. Commercial and privately made alcohol pre 1950's were a bit stronger than today, which might increase the chances of this, on top of whatever natural phenomena could cause it.
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