Thursday morning, as bystanders looked on in horror, a 40-year old man set himself aflame in downtown Calgary in front of the Harry Hays - a federal government building. He had a back pack and a cardboard sign with him.

Fernando Sanchez, a witness to the scene, who also video-taped the incident told CTV Calgary: 'I see some guy, he's in flames, all (over) his body, backpack. I was very scared because all of his body is in flames.'

Sanchez, says people tried to help emergency officials douse the flames, as ambulance that happened to be driving by, rushed to help put out the flames. Paramedics called to the 100 block of 4th Avenue S. E. near the Harry Hays Building found the man with serious burns. Taken to hospital with 40% burns on his body, including his back, face, hands and legs, the man according to a source may have been upset, as he was being deported back to Algeria.

He is in serious but stable condition at the Foothills Hospital.