Man reportedly encourages friends to set his head on fire at bar

AUGUSTA, GA – A Georgia man was injured after allegedly goading his friends to set his head on fire while drinking at a local bar.

WJBF reports investigators were originally told by 36-year-old William Bonner's friends that a group of attackers had set Bonner's head on fire after he had gotten in a fight with them at an Augusta bar.

However, investigators say they believe Bonner actually encouraged his friends to set his head on fire by dousing it with Bacardi 151 rum. A surveillance video from the bar obtained by WJBF shows it took two tries before Bonner was ignited.

"The man who was set on fire, bet his friends that he was drinking with that he could set his face on fire," Lt. Blaise Dresser of the the Richmond County Sheriff's office told WJBF. "Obviously no one believed him and he proved them wrong."

Bonner was listed at a local hospital in critical condition, but was reportedly released Sunday.

Dresser says no charges will be filed against Bonner, saying he believes Bonner has suffered enough.

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