Man who burned self dies

CEBU, Philippines - The man who set himself on fire last Thursday inside the Magellan’s Cross expired last Saturday at 3:40 a.m., according to a report from the information office of the Cebu City Medical Center.

The body of Exequiel Geneston, 77, was taken from the hospital by his family a few hours after he was pronounced dead by the attending physician.

The body now lies at his residence in Sitio Itom-Yuta, Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, Cebu City.

The death of Exequiel was also confirmed by his daughter, Ana Geneston, 44.

“O tinuod pero wala na mi dapat isulti pa kay wala na siya, humana,” Ana said in a phone interview.

Ana refused to give details on the cause of death of her father, but Dr. Marcerey Gallo, general surgeon of a private hospital in Cebu City, explained that the death of a person who is burned depends on the scenario.

Gallo said if a person suffers a long standing-infection, sepsis can be a possible cause of death.

Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state that is triggered by an infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues. Its lay term is blood poisoning.

Gallo added that another scenario could be when a person inhales hot fumes or fire which could lead to multiple organ failure.

Exequiel reportedly suffered third-degree burns to his face and body. He remained unconscious since his first day up to his last day at the hospital.

The family of Exequiel claimed that the victim was not insane when he burned himself. — /BRP (FREEMAN)