Punter’s head catches fire after Molotov cocktail thrown at Yorkshire pub

A pubgoer’s head exploded in flames after he was hit by a Molotov cocktail at point-blank range.

CCTV footage captured the moment a disagreement in a high street pub in Redcar, Yorkshire escalated into a gruesome attack last weekend.

A man is seen speaking jovially on the pavement when a petrol bomb is lobbed at him.

The victim’s head then flashes in a ball of flames as he quickly dives to the floor in agony.

His face is not even visible as he desperately rolls around while submerged in fire.

A bystander dashes out of a car and tries to pull off the victim’s shirt, which eventually extinguishes the flames.

Cleveland Police said two men and a woman have been arrested in connection with the violence after the row had broken out in the pub.

Three people were taken to hospital with injuries that were described as ‘serious but not life threatening’, including the man who was hit with the Molotov cocktail.

The altercation began in Peggy June’s micropub in the centre of the seaside town after a brawl between two groups of men, according to the Daily Mail.

A witness told the paper: ‘What happened afterwards was completely terrifying, it’s very fortunate that no one was killed. 

‘Some other people in the bar said they’d had flammable liquid squirted over them, but fortunately it was not ignited.’

The pub’s owner said he was ‘heartbroken’ by the incident.

Mr Jarvis said in the Mail: ‘From the bottoms of our hearts we want to send our sincerest apologies to all that were affected at the incident in Peggy June’s last night. 

‘At Peggy June’s our ethos is for everyone who comes to have the best time and leave with the best memories.’

A spokesman for North East Ambulance Service added: ‘We were called to a person injured on Queen Street, Redcar shortly before 8.45pm on Saturday 15 February. 

‘We dispatched a double crewed ambulance, a clinical team leader and were supported by a doctor from North East Immediate Care. One patient was taken to James Cook Hospital.’ 

Cleveland Police said: ‘We can confirm that a 33-year-old man has now been arrested in connection with the incident in Redcar which happened on Saturday night.

‘The incident happened in Peggy June’s Bar on Queen Street just after 8pm on Saturday, February 15, 2025, when a violent altercation took place in the bar, resulting in three people being taken to hospital with serious, but not believed to be life-threatening, injuries.

‘A 36-year-old woman has also been arrested in connection with the incident. 

‘Enquiries remain ongoing to locate and arrest two other men believed to be involved in the incident.

‘Anyone who was in Peggy Junes around the time of the incident and has not yet come forward to speak to police, is urged to get in touch with Cleveland Police.’

The force confirmed a 37-year-old man had also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

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