21 people burned after motivational speaker urges them to walk on hot coal.

Fire officials in California say at least 21 people were treated for burns after attendees of an event for motivational speaker Tony Robbins tried to walk on hot coals.

At least three people went to a hospital and most suffered second or third-degree burns, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Robbins was hosting a four-day gathering called ‘Unleash the Power Within’ at the San Jose Convention Center, which was attended by around 6,000 people.

Dangerous: Fire officials in California say at least 21 people were treated for burns after attendees of an event for motivational speaker
Witnesses say on Thursday, a crowd went to a park where 12 lanes of hot coals were on the grass.

Robbins’ website promotes ‘The Firewalk Experience’ in which people walk on super-heated coals.

Witness Jonathan Correll says he heard ‘wails of pain and screams of agony’.

“It was people seriously hurting, like they were being tortured,’ he told the newspaper.

Motivational speaker: Tony Robbins motivates the crowd at TEDMED on October 28, 2010 in San Diego, California
Location: Robbins was hosting a four-day gathering called ‘Unleash the Power Within’ at the San Jose Convention Center, pictured
‘First one person, then a couple minutes later another one, and there was just a line of people walking on that fire. It was just bizarre, man.’

Attendees reported suffering from blistered feet and had to soak their feet in a nearby fountain.

Fire Capt. Reggie Williams says organizers had an open fire permit and emergency personnel were on standby.

Robbins Research International said in a statement on Friday: ‘We have been safely providing this experience for more than three decades, and always under the supervision of medical personnel.

‘We continue to work with local fire and emergency personnel to ensure this event is always done in the safest way possible.’