Suicide live on US TV

A MAN committed suicide live on American television - and sent hundreds of viewers into suicidal depression. The unnamed man set himself on fire and unfurled a message on a motorway before shooting himself in the stomach.

The suicide was so quick KNBC, KMEX and KCAL TV channels in Los Angeles were unable to stop the pictures from reaching more than 500,000 viewers.

The scene was so horrific counselling centres in Los Angeles reported a flood of calls. News anchor Paul Moyer, apologising for the gaffe, told viewers to call one help centre. "But be patient, we are told their lines are very busy with literally hundreds of people calling after what they saw." Later the TV companies brought on a psychologist to help children deal with the incident. NBC had interrupted the popular Rosie O'Donnell show at 3pm to bring live footage of the man's protest. Police kept their distance as he patted his dog in the back of his pickup and spread a blue banner on the motorway which read: "HMO's are in it for the money. Live Free, Love Safe or Die." Helicopters filmed as the man made obscene gestures and stepped back into his truck. He emerged seconds later with his trousers ablaze. He rolled around on the ground then removed his trousers. Without warning he propped his rifle against the road and shot himself. Last night KNBC repeatedly apologising to its viewers.

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