A man is in a critical condition in hospital after his neighbour allegedly doused him in a flammable liquid and set him on fire during a dispute over a pet dog in Wollongong overnight, police say.
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Police allege the 45-year-old man was first attacked by two dogs, before the animals' owner then set the man alight, on Myuna Way in Mangerton, just west of Wollongong's CBD, about 9pm on Tuesday.
The injured man's friend, a 44-year-old woman, also suffered serious burns to her arms when she tried to extinguish the flames engulfing him.
A 41-year-old man, who police said was a neighbour of the injured man and owned the two dogs, was arrested on the same street later that night and has been charged over the alleged attack.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said initial investigations suggested the injured pair were walking near the alleged attacker's apartment when he set his two dogs on them.
The spokeswoman said officers were told there had been "an argument about a dog" immediately before the man was set alight.
"As the pair attempted to leave the area, they were confronted by the man, who allegedly doused the male victim in a flammable substance and set him alight," the police spokeswoman said.
"The woman was burnt attempting to help the man who was on fire."
When NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived, they found the man in the shower of a nearby apartment trying to cool his burns.
The victims were taken to Wollongong Hospital, less than a kilometre away.
The man was later flown to a Sydney hospital for specialist treatment. He remains in a critical condition, police said, while the woman remained in a stable condition in Wollongong Hospital.
The alleged attacker was taken to Wollongong police station and charged with throwing or laying down an explosive with intent to maim or do grievous bodily harm.
He was refused police bail and is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. Wollongong police were searching the man's apartment early on Wednesday morning.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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