VIDEO: Dramatic human fireball on Birkenhead Shell petrol forecourt

Mar 6 2010 by Samantha Parker, Liverpool Echo

Birkenhead petrol station fire 320

THESE dramatic pictures show the moment when a biker became a human fireball as flames engulfed his scooter.

The 22-year-old had just paid for his petrol at the station on Borough Road, Birkenhead, at 8pm on Thursday and was starting the bike when the fire started.

He dropped the Vespa scooter and fled, trying to put out the flames on his legs.

The bike fell on to a set of fuel pumps and set them on fire as well.

At its height the blaze was 20ft high and reached the canopy of the Shell garage.

Protective clothing meant the biker escaped unharmed.

Birkenhead Watch Manager Mark Cotgrave praised the quick actions of assistant Venkata Prasad Turata who was working in the Shell shop at the time.

He said: “I would like to praise the quick thinking of the garage attendant for isolating the pumps which prevented the fire from escalating further than it did.