Collector dies from injuries a 
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Collector dies from injuries after 'dud' shell explosion
SHIZUOKA -- A collector of dud shells who was seriously hurt when a number of his cherished possessions exploded earlier this month has died, police said Wednesday.
Mainichi Shimbun
Hundreds of shells and other ammunition were recovered from Katsumata's hut.
Noritaka Katsumata, 43, had been hospitalized since last Saturday after both his legs were broken in the accident. He died of massive organ failure Tuesday night.
The explosion occurred inside a hut belonging to the Katsumata family in Gotenba, Shizuoka Prefecture, seriously injuring the 43-year-old truck driver.
Investigators recovered 212 shells and 242 spent rifle bullets from the wrecked hut. Seventy-three of the shells were duds but still contained live explosives. It is believed that Katsumata's hobby was to collect shells and other ammunition scattered around the Ground Self-Defense Force's Higashi-Fuji training range located just three kilometers from his hut.
Anyone can walk into the range without being stopped on non-training days, defense officials admitted.
Police are trying to determine what caused the fatal explosion. (Compiled from Mainichi and wire reports, Japan, May 7, 2003)
Submitted on 05/08/2003
Submitted by:
Sonny Phono
Reference:
Mainichi Daily News 05/07/03
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