Melbourne man sets himself on fire while screaming about Dan Andrews' Covid vaccine mandates

A man has set himself and his car on fire in front of horrified diners while screaming about Victoria's Covid-19 vaccine mandates.

The man emerged from a silver MG3 hatchback engulfed in flames near Church St in Richmond about 8pm on Saturday.

Police officers and firefighters doused the man with water to extinguish the blaze with the help of about five witnesses.

A man has set himself and his MG3 hatch on fire in Richmond while screaming about Victoria's Covid-19 mandates on Saturday (pictured)

The bystanders helped restrain the man before police officers pinned him to the ground.

He was then taken into an ambulance and rushed to hospital.

Police said he had suffered life-threatening injuries.

One witness who helped restrain the man said his flesh was burning before the flames were put out with water.

The man had set himself and his car alight on Church St (pictured) in front of horrified diners at about 8pm on Saturday

'His skin was burning. He was on fire. His skin is stuck to [my] shirt,' she told The Herald Sun.

'He was off his face screaming about the mandates.'

Lydia O'Connor was having dinner at a nearby restaurant when she heard the man screaming.

'He poured gas on himself and on his car. It was on purpose,' Ms O'Connor told the publication.

'He was screaming about mandates. He was screaming "no vax ID" and throwing books.'

Victoria police and about five witnesses restrained the man who appeared 'off his face' while screaming about vaccine mandates

Police cordoned off the area near the intersection of Church and Swan Street while customers at surrounding businesses were told to stay indoors.

Bystanders said they initially saw black smoke coming from the vehicle, which was left with a charred driver's side door.

Forensic police were then seen examining the area.

Victoria Police said it was called to the intersection after reports of a man self-harming. The man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The incident caused disruptions to trams which run along Route 70 and Route 78 while the investigation continues.