Woman filmed screaming in pain after dress catches fire during audition for street role

Terrifying screams of pain were heard as a Melbourne street stunt went horribly wrong when a performer’s dress caught fire during an audition for a council security guard.

The candles the young woman was using to twirl caught on her clothes and engulfed her in flames.

Her dress was consumed in seconds.

She collapsed to the ground, her back and legs on fire.

Her screams were apparently so loud that they were heard from an office eight floors above.

The Southbank crowd desperately tried to put out the flames.

They are credited with saving his life.

The woman was in the middle of an assessment process to obtain a busker’s license.

Sky News reporter Ahron Young told 7 News he rushed to the window and saw the woman on fire.

“All these little canisters were on fire here,” he said.

Those watching could not believe what they were seeing.

Witness Jack Jopling said he thought this was part of the act.

“But then she started screaming and rolling on the floor,” he said.

That’s when the crowd rushed to save her.

Anthony Giordano said one man threw his cocaine at the woman and another used his suit jacket to put out the flames.

Unfortunately, the men arrived too late, as the woman was already badly burned.

Mr Giordano said he retrieved a bucket from a construction site where he was working.

“She was on the ground and I threw the bucket of water on her, then it escalated, her condition got worse and worse,” he said.

He said people rushed from all over the scene with bottles of water to try to help him.

The woman is believed to have been performing for 11 years.

She was taken to hospital with severe burns to her back and legs.