The Associated Press
SANTO DOMINGO,
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—An American magician was recuperating Sunday in the
Dominican Republic after a local television show host lit his head on fire with
a flammable cologne.
Chico,
California-native Wayne Houchin said he is receiving treatment for burns that
doctors are cautiously optimistic will not result in scars. A Sunday statement
on his Facebook page says he is “resting, healing & working through the
legal process” in the Caribbean nation, where he had been performing with a
group of fellow magicians.
During a Nov. 26
appearance on the Dominican Republic’s “Closer To The Stars” TV program, guest
host Franklin Barazarte abruptly doused the U.S. magician’s head with “Agua de
Florida,” a flammable cologne commonly used in Santeria rituals. A video of the
incident shows the magician’s head bursting into flames as Barazarte runs his
hands over Houchin’s hair.
It is unclear why the
TV host doused his head in the liquid and what ignited it. The program has not
commented on the incident.
The video also shows
Houchin, Barazarte and others struggling to extinguish the flames for several
seconds. The incident was not broadcast on Dominican television but a video of
it has appeared on the Internet.
Houchin said
Barazarte’s actions were completely unexpected and he considers it a criminal
attack.
He said “the outrage
here and outpouring of support has been incredible.”
It was not immediately
clear if he has retained a lawyer in the Dominican Republic.
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