José Antonio, the 70 year old man who intentionally blew himself up in a gas blast at his home in Vigo last Friday, died of his injuries at Povisa Hospital at 7.30pm last Wednesday evening.

The incident occurred after the man barricaded himself in his flat, demanding to speak to his estranged wife after she had successfully applied for a banning order against him for physical abuse.

Hospital staff confirm that José Antonio, who never regained consciousness, sustained second or third degree burns to between 40-45% of his body.

Man injured in self-inflicted gas blast
By: thinkSPAIN
Friday, February 1, 2008

A 70 year old man barricaded himself inside a flat in Vigo earlier today then blew himself up using three butane gas bottles. He sustained second and third degree burns to 45% of his body and is being treated at the Serious Burns Unit of the Povisa Clinic.

Trained negotiators tried unsuccessfully to diffuse the situation after the man, who has two previous convictions for domestic abuse, demanded to speak to his wife, threatening to blow himself up if permission was refused.

Fortunately, police had time to evacuate the building - as well as three other adjacent properties - before he carried out his threat.

Three firemen suffered minor smoke inhalation and a fourth was cut by flying glass while the man's wife, who was at the scene, was treated for shock.