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2013 Slush Pile

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

Went out with a bang

2013 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A South Carolina man, Robin Smith, was having some July 4th fun setting off fireworks. It was a rainy Independence Day, so the 4" mortar type fireworks were being set off from the porch.

Unfortunately, one of the mortars had a bum fuse. Fortunately, the particular set of mortar fireworks, "Lock and Load" had some extra fuses in the package. The bum fuse was removed, and replaced by a nice new fuse. The fuses on this type of incidiary device enter the mortar round from the bottom and are taped to the top. Not having paid particular attention to this small detail, the round was loaded into the mortar tube upside down.

Now this little oversight would probably have made for a scary explosion on the porch and simply frightened everyone had it been properly set off on the ground as the instructions indicate. However, our Darwin Arward nominee had other ideas. Due to the overhang of the porch, the fireworks needed to be held at an angle to shoot toward the open sky. Mr. Smith decided the best way to achieve the proper angle was to place the back of the tube against his chest to aim it.

The backwards facing mortar round flew through the back of the tube and a couple of inches into his chest, killing him instantly.

Submitted on 12/23/2013

Submitted by: Steve
Reference: http://www.wspa.com/story/22766300/travelers-rest-man-dies-after-july-4th-fireworks-explosion

Copyright © 2013 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat
Thanks, Steve, but we received this story back in July when the incident occurred: http://darwinawards.com/reject/new/pending20130708-195221.html


Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat
What Bruce said.


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