A man suffered 40 per cent burns and his wife and young son were overcome by smoke when their home was set ablaze in an apparent arson attack early yesterday.
The man, a 50-year-old driver, was set alight when he went to investigate a noise outside his 10th-floor home in Nam Shing Building, Johnston Road, Wan Chai, at 1am. 'When he opened the door, the fire spread into his flat and he suffered serious burns to his upper body, head and hands,' said Assistant Wan Chai Divisional Commander Chief Inspector Lawrence Wong Ying-wai.
Emergency crews had to run up the stairs because the only lift in the building was jammed - apparently deliberately - on the 10th floor.
Firefighters doused the flames at 1.18am and rescued the family. They were admitted to Queen Mary Hospital where the man was in serious condition. His son, 10, and 49-year-old wife were stable. Police took over the investigation after a metal can containing flammable liquid was found outside the flat.
The woman told police she had been involved in an argument over money with relatives. Two people were being questioned last night.