Florida man dies after being found ablaze in shopping center parking lot

Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A Florida man died after catching fire Tuesday afternoon in a Port Charlotte shopping center parking lot.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said the severely burned man had cardiac arrest as a medical helicopter was landing.

The man was transported to a hospital by ambulance instead because the helicopter had no space for CPR or to provide proper cardiac care.

The Charlotte County Sheriffs Department Major Crimes Unit and the state fire marshal are investigating the death.

Doctors pronounced the man dead at the hospital.

Witnesses said they saw a person screaming and running in the parking lot. The man was found covered head to toe in burns.

The man's name was not publicly released.

In a statement on Facebook Tuesday the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said, "We are on-scene of a death investigation near the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall. The State Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigation and there is no threat to the public. The identity of the deceased will not be released at this time."