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Burnt man walked 1.5km to safety

Michael Gunton

Police believe an East Cannington man walked more than 1.5km to a police station after he was attacked by five assailants, doused with an accelerant and set on fire early yesterday.

Michael Gunton, 20, arrived at Cannington police station at 4.30am, shirtless and with burns to his upper legs, chest and parts of his face. He has burns to about 40 per cent of his body, mainly his legs, stomach and abdomen and minor burns to his face.

He was in a critical condition in an induced coma in Royal Perth Hospital last night.

Mr Gunton told police he had been set on by five male attackers, described as dark-skinned, near Hamilton Street and Mallard Way in Cannington.

"He was still talking but in quite a bit of pain," Acting Det-Sen. Sgt Rob Jamieson said of Mr Gunton's condition when he arrived at the police station.

Mr Gunton's father Paul said he believed the cowardly attack was random.

"The hurt and pain that family and friends have to go through for a senseless act like that - words can't describe it," Paul Gunton told Seven News.

Det-Sen. Sgt Jamieson said the main offender was described as 18 to 25 years old, about 175cm tall, shirtless and wearing black and red basketball pants.

None of Mr Gunton's belongings were taken.