AN IRISHMAN is in police custody in Belgium after his girlfriend was reportedly doused in petrol and set on fire.
According to a report from the Irish Sun, the woman was left with 80 per cent burns to her body following the horrific ordeal.
Doctors were forced to place her in an induced coma due to the severity of her injuries.
Police were first alerted to the incident by the woman’s shocked grandmother.
She originally contacted the emergency services after seeing an unidentified figure, on fire, jumping into a nearby garden pool.
Upon arrival, fire fighters found the badly-injured woman lying in the pool.
She was transported to a nearby hospital in Leuven where she remains in a serious condition.
The incident took place at a residence close to the Belgian city of Antwerp.
A 33-year-old male was arrested at the scene.
The Irish Sun is reporting that the man violently resisted arrest.
He was said to have been intoxicated at the time.
An inspection of the mobile home where the couple were staying uncovered several scorch marks.
Police believe this is an indication that the woman was set on fire inside the structure.
However, the home has not been badly damaged despite the severity of the fire.
The man has already appeared before magistrates in Antwerp.
He has been remanded into custody until next Tuesday.
Few details are known of the male involved, other than the fact he is said to be originally from Co Donegal.
A probe is set to be conducted to determine whether the suspect should stay in police custody.
