Chilling stories behind people ‘spontaneously’ bursting into flames in ‘sign from God’

Daily Star

Bodies going up in flames with no apparent evidence of a fire source sounds like something you would see in a horror movie – yet, for some, it is very much a reality.

Spontaneous human combustion (SHC) refers to a person being burnt alive without an apparent external source of ignition. The fire seemingly starts within the body of the victim and many have suggested throughout history it is a “sign from God”.

Despite being powerful enough to reduce victims to ashes, certain stories claim that nothing else in the vicinity of the body showed signs of a fire.

Scientists conducted a two-year study in the 1980s to determine what caused SHC and claimed that plausible sources of ignition were often left out of accounts to add to their mystery.

But Ashley Flowers took a look at some of the most chilling stories on her Supernatural podcast and believes discounting the supernatural explanation is slightly premature.

Nicole Millet, Reims, France (1725)

Nicole Millet’s unexplained death where she disappeared into ashes took place at the hotel she ran with her husband Jean, in Reims, in the spring of 1725.

Jean, who did most of the work at the Golden Lion hotel as Nicole was a drunk, had gone to bed when he was awoken by a burning smell at around 2.30am.

He got all the guests out of the hotel after seeing plenty of smoke but little sign of fire.