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2008 February Slush
(DA)Chalk one up for the dog.
(DA)Slip Sliding Away
(?)Seatbelt subterfuge kills driver
(?)Mamba kills Man
(Hmmm)Surfing the wrong wave
(DA)A Breathtaking View
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DA:Dynamite Defroster
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(DA)Chemistry Went Over Her Head
(>)Living the High Life (On a Budget)
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(DA)Stabbing suspect dies in car crash
Fatal Ski Slope Prank
(?)Winched up
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Man died after driving down boat ra
Monk killed by own runaway lawnmowe
Up, Up, and Away!
(DA)Hare today, gone tomorrow
Top of the train
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A good thought gone bad
(HM)Shock Horror
Inspiration + Youth + Explosives =
Brain Evacuation
Manhole kills man, Dove in for Cana
Bridges are lower than they appear
no diving please
Roping a Bobcat
Mattress Race
Just Say No
Old shells never die
Man has friend shoot him to get off
Wash those genes away
BASE jumper succumbs to stupidity
A Mattress of Life and Death....
(DA)4 Die In Dirtbike Collision
boat welding
Trail Blazing Gaffe
It only works in the movies
feeling tyred - near miss
Tram drags man with him
Tree felling made easy
Community service for teen who burn
If at first you don't succeed
The $500 Bullet
Please Take This Outside
Trailer burns when woman uses gas t
Man dies trying to beat train in Sa
Death by iPod?
BBQ Whippits
Two men burned in backyard blast
Sledding Accident
The Widow Maker
Redneck Bee Exterminator
Miner nearly crushes himself
Too Close For Comfort
A fool and his bike
Drain Surfing
arrange your own hit
A tough act to swallow for student
Grocery Bang!
Drove 2.5 miles on the wrong way
2 teens hurt by explosion while dri
Departing parted
I'm dying for a drink
Smoking related near miss
Smoky bar triggered fatal asthma at
Man's death linked to cotton swab u
putting your foot in it
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Inspiration + Youth + Explosives =

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A personal account, and one which I am not so proud. Throughout human history I wonder how many epic failures and disasters have started with the phrase "Hey! I've got a great idea!". Well my great idea nearly took my head off.

At the impressionable age of 12, some friends and I were playing with penny bangers. Those old enough to recall them before they were banned in the UK will recall the 50p boxes of 50 tissue paper wrapped impact explosives that made a nice BANG on hitting a hard surface. As previously stated I had a stroke of genius. I purchased 20 boxes, 1000 bangers, and got a tissue...

My plan was to empty the contents of each banger into the tissue and make a single large banger, or "bomb" as it would now be called. In hindsight, putting my face REALLY close was a mistake.

At the 850ish mark a stray grain of this volatile powder caused the whole thing to go up.

I think my vision was the first to return, that was within 20 seconds or so. My hearing took a further 3 minutes to get beyond ringing. Of course by then all I could hear was the sound of my 2 friends dying of laughter in a corner. Partly cause of what had happened. Partly because I had a blacked out face with white circles round my eyes where my glasses had been.

Submitted on 02/28/2008

Submitted by: James Pearson
Reference:

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
I remember those things. Around here they were called "fun snaps", and a quick Google search shows you can still find them for sale. I'm a bit surprised to hear they've been banned in the UK but maybe that's because a lot of kids over there tried doing exactly what you did. I admit that as a kid I tried that as well, but I think I only combined 10 or so together, certainly not 1000. I only wish I could see a photo of the aftermath. Your description is priceless. Thanks for a great story, James!


James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Well, gunpowder IS gunpowder, after all! Put enough of it together and light it, and BANG! It's all the funnier that you were ALMOST done building the mother of all fun snaps when it went off! Thanks for a good laugh, James!


The Darwin Awards: Evolution in Action

Hardback. 327 pages. Autographed.
$15
185 Stories! In the ongoing saga of Survival of the Fittest, meet the thief who steals electrical wires without shutting off the current! Marvel at the would-be pilot who suspends his lawnchair from helium balloons! Learn from the man who peers into a gas can using a cigarette lighter...!

This book also includes a History of the Darwin Awards, Darwin Haiku, and a dozen humorous discussions of the implications of evolution, including the origin of idiots, and the role of testosterone.

Autographed by Author!

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