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Darwin Awards
2014 Slush Pile

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

Electric Eared

2014 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A teenage boy was fatally electrocuted after trying to 'listen' to train tracks – as is done in his native Pakistan.

Kanwal Butt, 17, suffered severe burns and died immediately after putting his ear to the live rail to see if his train was approaching Godstone station in Surrey, an inquest heard.

Kanwal, who had come to the UK from Pakistan with his family 18 months earlier, had already walked across the tracks to the intercom to ask staff why his train was late.

The 17-year-old then clambered down from the platform again, knelt down and leaned towards the deadly rail, which discharged a shock that killed him instantly.

Submitted on 01/22/2014

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2544087/Teenager-electrocuted-death-putting-ear-live-rail-li

Copyright © 2014 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I'm voting to keep this for several reasons, the main one being he "listened" to the third rail! Even in Pakistan, they probably "listen" to one of the two main rails (as far as I know, most electric trains on the Indian subcontinent are powered by overhead wire), so what this lid was thinking is beyond me! Anyway, he's old enough, so I vote DA! We'll see what the other moderators think! Thanks!


Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
Sorry, but without proof of him knowing that the third rail was dangerous, I can't vote Darwin. Thanks anyway, and submit again!


Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
I'm afraid that I'm going to have to side with Candi on this. The referenced article states that "An inquest was told that the teenager, who was making his first solo train journey in Britain, would probably not have known about live rails." Since he didn't know about the danger, and what he did was common practice in his home country, I just don't see this as Darwin worthy. Thanks just the same.


Tracy said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
Unfortunately, he had no idea that he was doing anything stupid...


Shadow said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
I agree, this kid didn't seem to know the dangers. Thanks though


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