A 41-year-old man who was found lying on the ground alongside a burning car in Marsamxett, Valletta on Saturday has died.

Liam Vidal, a resident of Ta’ Xbiex, had been receiving treatment at Mater Dei Hospital for serious injuries he sustained.

Police were called to the Marsamxett site and found a Vauxhall Insigna car on fire right at the edge of a parking area, facing the sea. Vidal was discovered lying next to it. He is believed to have caught fire in an attempt to put out the flames. 

Vidal is understood to have died due to the severe burns he sustained in the incident. 

Civil Protection Department firefighters were called to the scene to extinguish the fire. The army’s Explosive Ordinance Unit was also involved, to ensure that there was no explosive material at the site.

Police do not believe the fire was caused by a bomb.

An inquiry is being led by Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace.

Among those paying tribute to his memory was Valletta FC's youth academy. 

In a post offering Vidal's relatives its condolences, the club noted how Vidal had previously served as a coach for its youth teams. 

Also quick to pay tribute to Vidal was Ta' Xbiex mayor Max Zammit. 

"The Ta' Xbiex community has lost a friend," Zammit wrote on Facebook.