Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian man suffered severe burns when his mattress was set ablaze by his lit cigarette after he dozed off while smoking, a news report said Monday.

Construction worker Soh Lip Tah suffered burns on more than 75 per cent of his body from Sunday's incident, the Star daily said.

Some Indonesian workers were passing by Soh's home when they saw smoke spewing from the windows, the report said.

The men broke in and saw Soh lying unconscious on his burning mattress. They pulled him out of the house and sent him to a nearby hospital.

Hospital authorities said Soh was in critical condition. (dpa)