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Darwin Awards
2011 Slush Pile

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

Man dies after trying to cut pacema

2011 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

"November 2011 A 47-year-old man has died after trying to cut out his own heart pacemaker from beneath the skin of his chest. This was submitted for a Darwin Award. Thank you for the submission, but although it is certainly foolhardy to carve a pacemaker out from under your skin--under normal circumstances--in this case he died of natural heart disease, and the attempt to remove the pacemaker was either due to its malfunction, or the pain of a heart attack, an attack coupled with pacemaker jogs. Not a winner, only a loser, we greatly regret the loss of Mr. Channing Askew." -Miss Darwin.
ORIGINAL SUBMISSION 1: link.
ORIGINAL SUBMISSION 2:

Man dies after trying to cut pacemaker out of his chest

By Paul Thompson

Last updated at 5:45 PM on 2nd November 2011

A 47-year-old man has died after trying to cut out his own heart pacemaker from his chest. Channing Askew, who lived in Chicago, told friends he was experiencing chest pains and asked for an ambulance was called. While waiting for an ambulance he attempted to gouge out the device using a screwdriver or knife.

Heart helper: Pacemakers help to regulate the heart beat but Channing Askew complained of chest pains and wanted to remove his

When paramedics arrived at the house Askew was already unconscious. As they attempted to revive him they noticed the stab wound and called police. Doctors later said the single stab wound around the area where the medical device had been fitted was self inflicted. Askew could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital.

Police were called to the group home in the Uptown district of Chicago where Askew lived amid fears he had been attacked. Doctors said the wounds were self inflicted as it appeared Askew had been attempting to remove his own pacemaker.

No autopsy was conducted by the Cook County medical examiner's office, who ruled his death natural due to heart disease.

Heart pacemakers are small, battery-operated devices that senses when your heart is beating irregularly or too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that makes your heart beat at the correct pace. The pacemaker is usually inserted on the left side of the chest under the skin near the collar bone.

Submitted on 11/02/2011

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2056714/Chicago-man-Channing-Askew-dies-trying-cut-pacemaker

Copyright © 2011 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Due to the medical examiner's ruling, I don't see how this is a Darwin. The other moderators may differ. Also, please be more careful when copying and pasting; there is a lot of extraneous junk in this submission. Thanks, and submit again!


Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Other
As Candi said. I also question this mans state of mind for attempting this, and we don't award folks who are mentally disturbed. Thanks just the same.


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