THE family of a young father who was set on fire have condemned partygoers who laughed as he was engulfed in flames.

The parents and sister of David Day have been asking “Why?” since they had a call from the Odstock burns unit in Salisbury telling them that the 21-year-old had been brought in.

Mr Day – known as DJ – fell asleep listening to his iPod at a party at his home in Ranelagh Road in Weymouth’s Park District when he woke up realising he was on fire.

His friends told how they believe somebody poured perfume on him and set him alight before Stuart ‘Ozzy’ Smith battled to smother the flames engulfing his housemate.

David’s mum Tracey Day, 45, said she went into shock and felt numb when she got the call from the hospital.

She said: “It’s evil.

“Why would somebody be so horrible to do that to somebody?”

Mrs Day, of Canberra Road, Weymouth, has been visiting her son in hospital with his dad Nigel.

She said: “He’s in a lot of pain and keeps being sick.

“He died in the ambulance and if it hadn’t been for Ozzy he wouldn’t be here now.

“Every time I talk about it I get goosebumps.”

The former Wey Valley School pupil has an 11-month old daughter with his girlfriend.

His mum added: “What if DJ had died?

“We have to thank our lucky stars that they’re not looking at a murder charge.”

Mrs Day told of her revulsion at the behaviour of partygoers who watched her son burning.

She said: “Other people were laughing at him and I don’t think that’s funny.

“If they put shaving foam on him or painted his face I could laugh.

“When they were waiting for the ambulance DJ said to Ozzy ‘what have I done so wrong for someone to burn me?’”

So far, a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old – both from Weymouth – have been arrested and released on police bail.

Mr Day’s father Nigel, 52, is hoping whoever set light to his son is brought to justice.

He said: “I’m absolutely devastated and I went absolutely spare when I was told.

“We’ve been in to see him and he’s in a lot of pain and is having a skin graft.

“He’s bandaged from his waist to his neck and down his arm to his elbows.”

Both parents criticised the house of multiple occupancy in Ranelagh Road where their son lived.

Nigel added: “He does not want to live there anymore. He’s absolutely petrified. When I see him my eyes fill up.

“He’s not harmed anybody so why would they want to torch him?”

Mr Day’s sister Iyesha Evans, 19, added: “I just feel really sorry for him. When I went in his house I saw all the black marks across the wall and was thinking about what happened.

“It’s traumatising seeing his burnt T-shirt in the kitchen.

“It’s disgusting that people can do that to him.

“He’s only 21 and nearly lost his life and now he’s too scared to go to sleep.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Officers are keeping an open mind and inquiries are ongoing.”

Anyone with information about Mr Day being burnt at around 2am on Saturday morning can call Dorset Police on 01305 222222.