A woman is currently hospitalized in critical condition after her apparel seemingly ignited in the midst of a bustling Edinburgh thoroughfare.
The emergency response was prompted by the incident on St Leonards Street around 12:10 pm on Monday. The woman sustained severe injuries and was promptly transported via ambulance to the hospital, where she is fighting for her life.
Footage reviewed by the Daily Record, though deemed too distressing for publication, depicts the woman in distress on the ground attempting to remove her trousers as flames envelop her lower body.
Onlookers, including two Royal Mail employees, were observed trying to assist by using garments and a blanket to smother the flames. Despite efforts, a bystander’s attempt to douse the fire with water proved unsuccessful.
The video concludes with the woman lying on the pavement as bystanders persist in their efforts to extinguish the flames. Firefighters arrived at the scene, successfully dousing the fire before departing alongside police.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but authorities indicated no suspicion of foul play.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland relayed, “Around 12:10 pm on Monday, June 22, 2026, police responded to a report of a woman with serious injuries outside flats on St Leonards Street, Edinburgh. The woman was rushed to the hospital via ambulance, with medical personnel describing her condition as critical. No suspicious circumstances have been identified, and investigations are ongoing.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson stated, “We were alerted to a fire at Carnegie Court Corner on Bowmont Place at 12:10 pm on Monday, June 22. Two fire appliances were dispatched, successfully extinguishing the fire. The incident was then handed over to Police Scotland.”
