TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — UPDATE: The man who sustained injuries in a fire in Tarpon Springs Monday night has died.
According to Tarpon Springs police, the man died Wednesday at Tampa General Hospital.
Police said the man's body will be taken to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office for examination. The investigation is ongoing.
- Incident happened Monday night inside gated townhome community
- Man injured in fire dies
- Police, fire rescue, Fire Marshall's Office investigating
The incident happened at 8 p.m. inside a gated townhome community at 1507 Hillview Lane. Neighbor Zachary Midkiff, 24, said his mother heard screaming and was the first person who went over to help.
"When she walked up, she saw a gentleman laying down in the corridor partially engulfed in flames and badly burnt," he said. "She immediately ran next door to the neighbor to get him and he ended up grabbing his hose and putting him out there."
Midkiff said his mom told him the man was on fire from his waist up and his skin was peeling off.
"She told me that he was just screaming things like 'Help,'" he said. "She was just trying to comfort him until help arrived and just (told him) 'Hold on. Everything is going to be OK. Help is on its way.'"
There was no fire damage visible from the outside of the townhome on Tuesday. A fire detector was on top of a trash can and the windows were open.
Tarpon Springs Police said there was fire damage discovered inside of the townhome. Police have not released the man's identity or any other information about the fire, citing an on-going investigation.
Tarpon Fire Rescue along with the Florida Fire Marshall's Office are also investigating the incident.