GEORGE TOWN: A home alone man cheated death after allegedly trying to torch a flat unit where he stayed, here, today.
The fire broke out on the third floor in the unit at Desa Selatan, Jelutong about 10am, causing brief panic to residents at the premises.
The man however miraculously remained unscathed in the attempted arson.
Northeast District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the man's neighbours managed to control the flames before the Fire and Rescue Department personnel arrived at the scene.
"There was a tense moment when the residents found him at the scene with plumes of smoke billowing from the unit," Mior said.
He said the man believed to be mentally unsound had been warded at the Penang Hospital as a precautionary measure.
"The senior citizen appeared to be subdued and refused to speak to the investigating officer.
"He will be referred to a public mental clinic for psychiatrist observation,"Mior said.