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24/05/2005
Two people suffer burns in mock 'Star Wars' fight
Two people are critically ill in hospital after an apparent attempt to recreate a ‘Star Wars’ lightsaber fight went tragically wrong.
Police said that a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman had been found in woodland in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, suffering from severe burns. The pair were taken to hospital in Chelmsford, Essex and are described as being in a critical condition - it was reported that the man had suffered more than 40% burns to his body.
It is believed that the pair had attempted to fill a fluorescent light tube with fuel, before setting it alight, in order to recreate the weapon made famous in the hit sci-fi films.
Police said that they do not know the exact circumstances of the incident, but said that glass tubes and traces of a flammable substance had been found at the scene. It is thought that one of the devices may have exploded, setting fire to the pair’s clothing.
It was also reported that a videotape had been found at the scene and police believe they may also have been filming themselves at the time.
The accident comes just days after the sixth and final film in the ‘Star Wars’ series, ‘Revenge of The Sith’ opened in cinemas to tremendous acclaim. One of the main scenes in the film features a lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan MacGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).
(KMcA/SP)
Police said that a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman had been found in woodland in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, suffering from severe burns. The pair were taken to hospital in Chelmsford, Essex and are described as being in a critical condition - it was reported that the man had suffered more than 40% burns to his body.
It is believed that the pair had attempted to fill a fluorescent light tube with fuel, before setting it alight, in order to recreate the weapon made famous in the hit sci-fi films.
Police said that they do not know the exact circumstances of the incident, but said that glass tubes and traces of a flammable substance had been found at the scene. It is thought that one of the devices may have exploded, setting fire to the pair’s clothing.
It was also reported that a videotape had been found at the scene and police believe they may also have been filming themselves at the time.
The accident comes just days after the sixth and final film in the ‘Star Wars’ series, ‘Revenge of The Sith’ opened in cinemas to tremendous acclaim. One of the main scenes in the film features a lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan MacGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).
(KMcA/SP)
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