Blind man dies after setting fire to himself using microwave

A blind man died in a freak accident when he set his clothes on fire while attempting to warm up a towel in a microwave.

James Shaffer, 68, from Stonycreek Township in Pennsylvania, put the cloth in the appliance to warm it up and use it to soothe his sore knee on Tuesday.

However, Mr Shaffer, who has lived alone for 25 years, did not realise it was on fire and the blaze spread to his flannel shirt.

He managed to douse the flame with his shower head, singeing the carpet as he ran to the bathroom, but he suffered 80 per cent burns as a result of the inferno.

Oakland Fire Department deputy chief David Ream said a dry towel will catch fire after just 15 seconds in a microwave.

He told WJAC 6: "He went to grab the towel. Being blind, he pulled it back on himself and caught his arm.

"The flannel shirt caught fire and then it just burnt the rest of his clothing off of him."

Mr Ream said Mr Shafer remained calm in the ambulance.

He added: "He was very apologetic, he was telling us every couple of minutes that he was sorry, he should have known better.

"He was very, very calm for the situation we had at hand."

The County Medical Examiner’s Office said he died of thermal inhalation.

Neighbours described him as one of the nicest and most intelligent men they’d ever met, and added that he refused to let his disability stop him from enjoying life.

The Oakland Fire Department is reportedly struggling to come to terms with the tragedy - the first ever fire-related death in the township.