Top singer hurt in film accident

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 10

Top singer hurt in film accident

NZPA-Reuter Los Angeles The pop singer, Michael Jackson, was released from hospital yesterday “in cheerful spirits” less than 24 hours after his hair caught fire in a film accident, his doctor said. Dr Steven Hoefflin had said earlier that the singer, aged 25, would remain in Brotman Memorial Hospital for several days. “Michael is very tired,” Dr Hoefflin told a news conference. “Some skin on his scalp was burned away and there is also the fear of infection." But soon afterwards, Jackson left hospital, apparently on his way to his Los Angeles home. Dr Hoefflin said he had consulted another hospital doctor and they had agreed there would be no danger in releasing Jackson. He said Jackson, the former lead singer in the Jackson Five who has sold about 120 million records, would be treated on a daily basis as an out-patient. Jackson, who had recently let his fair grow longer, was making a television com- ■ mercial for a soft drinks firm on Saturday when sparks set his hair on fire. A smoke bomb being used in the scene exploded behind Jackson as he came down a stairway singing commercial lyrics to his hit song “Billie Jean”, his spokesman John Branca, said. ~4. Witnesses said Jackson

pulled his jacket over his head to snuff out the flames and his five brothers and friends rushed to his aid and put the fire out in about 10 seconds. Jackson, who does not like taking drugs, was in pain on Saturday and was treated with ice-packs and pain-reducing tablets, Dr Hoefflin said. Any reconstructive surgery would depend on how well Jackson’s hair grew. Another doctor said Jackson had. visited every patient in the burns ward before leaving. Jackson lives with his mother in a home that has its own “hot dog” stand and a pet boa constrictor. Aides said Jackson wanted a film clip of his accident to be shown on television to forestall any rumours about the incident.