Warrawong, NSW: Man arrested in Albion Park after allegedly dousing 25-year-old in petrol, setting him alight

WARNING: This story contains disturbing content.

The manhunt for a person who allegedly broke into a unit, covered a man in petrol, and set him alight, has ended.

A 32-year-old man was charged in relation to the horrific incident.

Emergency services were contacted about 9pm on Monday night after reports of a fire at a unit block in Warrawong, Wollongong.

When they arrived, they were told that a 25-year-old man had been set alight by an unknown person who fled from the scene.

The man suffered severe burns to his face, chest, neck, and arms.

Paramedics treated the man for serious burn injuries before being airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital in critical condition.

Lake Illawarra Police District Detective Chief Inspector Brad Ainsworth described the incident as a “very violent, very direct attack”.

“A unit was forcibly entered and the occupant was doused in an accelerant,” he said, as reported by ABC.

“That accelerant was then ignited and he suffered severe burns.”

Chief Inspector Ainsworth said 50 per cent of the 25-year-old’s body was burned.

He remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A 32-year-old man was arrested in relation to the attack at a home in a nearby suburb, Albion Park, about 3.15pm on Tuesday.

He was charged with throw or lay down explosive with intent to maim or do grievous bodily harm.

The man was refused bail and is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

Police said there was an investigation into why the 25-year-old was targeted.

The incident comes a week after a 44-year-old man was sentenced to 22 years and nine months in prison for murdering his mother by dousing her in petrol and setting her on fire in January, 2024.

Shannon James Doble, 44, set his mother’s house at Bribbaree, north-west of Young, on fire in January 2024 before bludgeoning her with the jerrycan full of petrol.

“(Doble) then walked outside to his mother and said to her, ‘you’re going to burn bitch’. He then lit her on fire,” Justice Julia Lonergan told the court last Wednesday.

Doble last year pleaded guilty to her murder.

The court was told the incident was sparked by an argument over a jerrycan because the 65-year-old mother, Nerol Doble, wanted to mow the grass.

While Doble fled the scene, Ms Doble was flown to hospital where she later died because of her burns and injuries.

A teenage girl made “valliant attempts” to put the fire out but was burned by the flames, the court heard.

“She is a hero,” Justice Lonergan said of the girl, commending her bravery, and saying she provided “a shield and love and comfort” to Ms Doble in the face of “terrifying events”.

The court was told Doble explained to detectives: “If she left me alone, if she’d stopped pushing me … and making me do this s--t, it wouldn’t have happened. All she had to do was just leave me alone.”

Justice Lonergan described it as a “truly horrible crime” and said Doble had never shown “any sign of remorse”.

She noted he had been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, personality disorder and complex post traumatic stress disorder.

“Nerol Doble was a much-loved partner, mother and grandmother,” Justice Lonergan said in her sentencing remarks on Wednesday afternoon.

“She was brutally and horrifically murdered by the offender, one of her own sons, in an appalling and callous demonstration of uncontrolled anger and resentment.”

Doble will be eligible for release in December, 2040, after serving a 16 year, 11 month non-parole period.