Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) refers to the belief that the human body sometimes burns without an external source of ignition. As it is an unproven natural phenomenon, there is much speculation and controversy regarding SHC.
Possible Explanations
Many theories and hypotheses have attempted to explain how SHC might occur, but those which rely on current scientific understanding say that with instances mistaken for spontaneous combustion, there actually was a source of ignition. One such hypothesis is the "wick effect", in which the clothing of the victim soaks up melted human fat and acts like the wick of a candle. Another possibility is that the clothing is caused to burn by a discharge of static electricity. The likelihood that truly spontaneous human combustion actually takes place within the body is quite low.
As An Anomalous Phenomenon
A field of SHC theory asserts that the cause of SHC is supernatural, however this is not accepted by the scientific community.
John E Heymer and The Entrancing Flame
Described by Joe Nickell as an "English coal-miner-turned-constable," John E. Heymer wrote a 1996 book entitled The Entrancing Flame.
The title is derived from one deductive conclusion that he has reached from examining many cases, namely that SHC victims are lonely people who fall into a trance immediately before their incineration.
Heymer suggests that a psychosomatic process in such emotionally-distressed people can trigger off a chain reaction by freeing hydrogen and oxygen within the body and setting off a chain reaction of mitochondrial explosions.
However, Heymer's theories have no basis in scientific theory. Ian Simmons, in a review of The Entrancing Flame, criticized Heymer thus: "He seems to be under the illusion that hydrogen and oxygen exist as gases in the mitochondrial cell [sic] and are thus vulnerable to ignition, which is, in fact, not the case."
Alleged Deaths and Survivals
Deaths
Robert Francis Bailey
John Irving Bentley
George I. Mott
Mary Reeser
Jeannie Saffin
Henry Thomas
Survivals
A number of people have reported serious burns that injured their bodies with no apparent cause. If this is not the alleged phenomenon known as SHC, it would appear to be a very closely-related occurrence. This list is not intended to be taken as comprehensive.
Jack Angel