Shocking moment street vendor is engulfed in flames and suffers second-degree burns when youths set fire to his hydrogen-filled balloons as a prank

• Oliver Rosales, 29, was selling balloons in Manila, Philippines, last week
• Group of youths approached him before one boy set fire to one balloon
• The fire quickly spread to the others, which exploded in a huge fireball 

A street vendor suffered second degree burns after pranksters set fire to his hydrogen-filled balloons as a prank.  

Oliver Rosales, 29, was resting beneath the colourful balloons outside a town hall in Manila, Philippines, last week when cruel youths carried out the prank. 

Footage shows the moment that they light them as a joke, causing them to explode in a ball of flames which engulf Mr Rosales. 

Despite the cruel prank, the injured seller said he had forgiven the youngsters who injured him and that their parents would pay for his medical bills. 

Street vendor Oliver Rosales, 29, suffered second-degree burns when youths set fire to his hydrogen balloons

He said: ‘They were just young boys. They don’t know any better. I forgive them because I know when they are older they will realise how senseless it was.’

In the video, Mr Rosales is seen walking with his cartoon-themed balloons before he stops to rest next to a set of stairs.

Four boys are then seen on and around the stairs and one of them uses a lighter to set fire to one of the balloons before the group run away.

The balloon is then swiftly consumed by flames as Mr Rosales sits below them, still unaware of the danger. 

Despite the cruel prank, the injured seller said he had forgiven the youngsters who injured him and that their parents would pay for his medical bills. Pictured: Mr Rosales shows the extent of his burns

In the video, Mr Rosales is seen walking with his cartoon-themed balloons before he stops to rest next to a set of stairs. One boy, who is part of a group of seven, then lights one of the balloons before running away

The fire then quickly spreads to the rest of the balloons and a huge ball of flames swirls around the seller.

Once the flames have subsided, smoke can be seen rising from Mr Rosales, who hops in agony.

He tries to push a melted piece of balloon off of his leg before turning his attention to plastic which appears to have fused onto his head. 

On the floor near the stairs, the remains of the balloons are still on fire. 

The fire then quickly spreads to the rest of the balloons and a huge ball of flames swirls around the seller. Once the flames have subsided, smoke can be seen rising from Mr Rosales, who hops in agony. He has a molten piece of balloon stuck to his head

Photos show the horrific injuries to Mr Rosales’s arms and legs, which are covered in fluid-filled blisters. 

Speaking of his injuries, Mr Rosales said:  ‘The scars will be on my body for a long time. Maybe forever. I still have to work though. 

‘The parents of the boys who did it have paid for my medical costs and for new balloons.’

Town hall chairman Celso Esteban said that the thin film of plastic that the balloons were made of melted around Oliver’s head and arms.

Photos show the horrific injuries to Mr Rosales’s arms and legs, which are covered in fluid-filled blisters. Speaking of his injuries, Mr Rosales said: ‘The scars will be on my body for a long time. Maybe forever. I still have to work though

Officials identified seven boys who were involved in the fire and dragged them in to the town hall for questioning.

Mr Esteban said: ‘Five of the boys involved were minors and the other two were over 18. They have all met with the victim but they haven’t apologised.

‘They said they just did it as a prank. Their parents have agreed to pay for Oliver’s medical costs if he does not file a police complaint against them. 

‘He has agreed to that.’

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