Fire breather lights himself on fire in pep rally stunt gone wrong

A performer at a Florida high school pep rally set himself on fire in front of hundreds of students Thursday in a dramatic accident caught on video.

The performer, reportedly a fire breather, was part of a troupe at Atlantic High's gym Thursday morning, Delray Beach Fire Rescue Capt. Ed Beardsley said. He added that the man was rushed to the hospital with burns. Beardsley did not know their severity.

He said seven other people were hospitalized after breathing fire extinguisher dust. Their injuries were not serious. He did not know how many were students.

Video posted online shows the man suddenly being engulfed in flames. He appeared to be holding a can of flammable liquid which added to the fire, the Palm Beach Post reported.

He scrambles to the floor and others come to his aid as the video ends.

Classes resumed after the accident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.