A German smoker had a painful lesson about the health risks of smoking when a cigarette machine fell on him.

Walter Neubauer, 42, from Cologne started banging the machine with his hand when it failed to give him the cigarettes he had paid for.

But the machine fell off the wall and landed on top of him, closely followed by a large section of the wall.

Passers-by who heard the crash and the man's calls for help were able to free him.

He was taken to hospital but after treatment for cuts and bruises was allowed to go home.

Story filed: 09:56 Monday 24th February 2003 (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_754063.html)

Submitted on 02/24/2003

Submitted by: Jamie Mackay
Reference: www.ananova.com/ 24/02/03

Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com

Teela said:
Maybe Toss: No Self-Selection

Bill said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
The correct phrase is: "Die EU-Gesundheitsminister warnt: Rauchen gefährdet die Gesundheit". Doesn't really fit, but I got a laugh out of it.

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
I like it for the irony value ... "Warnung des Chirurg-Generals: Das Rauchen kann für Ihre Gesundheit gefährlich sein!"

Gregory said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Tipped over soda machines have been reported before, but the connection with smoking raises this one a level.

Bert said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Funny, but just an accident.

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