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Darwin Awards
2006 Slush Pile

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

Not for lack of trying.

2006 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Dear Darwin Awards Editor,

I would like to nominate Mr Song for an honourable mention. Although he was unable to make the ultimate sacrifice, it was not for lack of trying. He is still alive, thus whilst he does not qualify for a successful Darwin Award, I think you will appreciate he did make an exceptional effort.

Headline ======= INJURED Korean businessman, Song Sanghoom 42, considered himself lucky to be still alive, after jumping from the third floor of the Pacific Royale Hotel, in Nuku'alofa on the 4th May 2006 as a Magnitude 7.9 earthquake rocked the Pacific islands from an epicentre close to Tonga.

Background ========= Anyone living in an earthquake zone is probably already aware that when an earthquake hits you should immediately get into a doorway, under a strong table or some other place where you are likely to be protected from falling objects.

On the 4th May 2006 a large earthquake of 7.9 magnitude, only 16km deep struck the south pacific near Tonga. Within minutes a tsunami warning was issued by the Honolulu-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Memories of the recent cataclysmic Boxing Day tsunami near Indonesia, swept the region from Hawaii to New Zealand. In the first of a series of ironies, not surprisingly the earthquake caused a power failure in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, which was the only point of contact for the tsunami warning system. Thus the tsunami warning never reached the people of Tonga, who would be first to be hit by any tsunami.

In a village just outside the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa, a church's steeple was toppled by the violent shaking. Church secretary Sitaleki Faupula said the steeple had crashed down across the church's front door, leaving a pile of rock and rubble where the church's 200 parishioners often stand in the early morning at around 5am as the service starts. "It was lucky that today (Thursday) was not the day for our service," Faupula said.

Our nomine

========= In Tonga, visiting Korean businessman, Song Sanghoom 42 had experienced a devastating earthquake nine years previously in Taiwan in 1997. Thus when the quake hit Tonga while he was in his hotel, he soon realised it was powerful enough to kill people. Due to language difficulties, it is still not clear whether Song intended to become a victim of falling debris or if he realised a tsunami would be likely to sweep through the area. What is clear is he quickly realised his opportunity for a Darwin Award had arrived.

Of course there is little incentive for an aspiring Darwin Award nomine to remain 3 stories above ground if a tsunami was on the way. In any case Song’s instincts and experience in these matters meant he knew that there are far more places to be hit by falling debris if he was outside in the open.

In order to enhance his chances of nomination, Song ignored the stairway. Realising the earthquake could stop shaking the hotel at any moment, Song wasted no time in getting outside onto his 3rd floor balcony where he could see the swimming pool below. Launching himself off the balcony, he must have felt that the Darwin Award was finally within his grasp as he noted that the swimming pool was empty.

Unfortunately our hero did not project himself far enough outwards and landed just beside the swimming pool rather than in it. When interviewed later in hospital, "I was sure that I could make it..." said Song covering his face with his hands from a sudden rush of pain from the lower part of his body where he had landed, "but, it was stupid. I am very ashamed."

I think that given the limited time Song had to prepare for this event, and the shaking of the building, we could forgive him for his lack of jumping accuracy.

While he lay crippled on the ground near the seaside, he must have realised that such a strong earthquake would be likely to generate a tsunami. Hence he must have felt his chances for a Darwin Award were still within his grasp.

Meanwhile the tidal wave created by the earthquake was measured at only 60cm (2 ft) and so the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancelled it’s alert. However in a final irony Song had to lie in a stretcher without pain killers for over 7 hours because the earthquake had caused the hospital’s lifts to fail and the technicians where on holiday. Apparently stairs are not in vogue in Tonga. It never occurred to anyone to carry Song’s stretcher up the stairway to get this legs X-rayed until a reporter made the suggestion.

References: Matangi Tonga Online 4th May 2006 http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/disasters/tonga_quake040506.shtml Shanghai Daily 4th may 2006 http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/05/05/274205/Quake_rocks_Tonga__tsunami_warning_fails.htm Stuff.co.nz http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3657755a11,00.html The Star http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/5/4/apworld/20060504182235&sec=apworld MSN News http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/international/news/20060504p2g00m0in022000c.html

Submitted on 05/04/2006

Submitted by: Dave Crosby
Reference: Matangi Tonga Online, 4th May

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
Betcha he panicked. Yep, when facing imminent, certain, or even perceived death, humans will take the less painful route. Jumping, even from great heights, is preferable to burning or being buried alive in rubble. He made as sound a judgement as one might make while experiencing a tremor and merely miscalculated. I didn't find this particularly funny, and Song did nothing particularly Darwinian. Thanks for the submission just the same!


Sheryl said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
As James says. By the way, the earthquake did little damage considering the magnitude. Most of the damage was to people who did what Song did - panicked.


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