Twenty three-year-old Molly Jerman must have wanted to impress her "friend" Todd Evans, 33, by demonstrating her gymnastics abilities on the 2nd floor balcony of the North Fort Myers Best Western Motel room the pair, both of whom resided quite locally, checked into late on a Saturday evening.

The available press coverage (below) does not specify whether Molly consumed any alcohol during her final evening. It wouldn't be surprising if she had, but it would not much diminish the high level of excellence in poor judgement Molly demonstrated. The top of a balcony railing, high above a hard surface patio, is clearly a hazardously situated aparatus on which to attempt an impromptu late night hand stand.

But that's what Molly did, after calling for the attention of Todd, who was in the room. "Watch to see what I can still do," she said, right before she attempted the rail top handstand. The coverage does not say how much prior experience in gymnastics Molly had or whether she achieved a full upright, straight arms handstand on the balcony rail before she lost her balance and obeyed the laws of gravity all the way to her impact with the patio below.

Prompt and presumably skillful medical attention was unable to save her.

There is no way of knowing how much more impressed Todd might have been had Molly chosen to demonstrate her gymnastic skills in the relative safety of inside the motel room.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/18/balcony.death.ap/index.html

Woman falls to death attempting balcony handstand

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 Posted: 11:45 AM EST (1645 GMT)

NORTH FORT MYERS, Florida (AP) -- A woman fell to her death while trying to do a handstand on the railing of a second-floor hotel balcony, sheriff's officials said.

olly Jerman, 23, of Cape Coral died Sunday. While attempting a handstand, she toppled over and dropped to the hotel patio, according to the Lee County sheriff's department.

Just before she fell, she had called out to a friend, "Watch to see what I can still do," a police report said. Foul play is not believed to be involved, officials said.

-----------------------------------

By The News-Press Staff Published by news-press.com on January 18, 2005

A Cape Coral woman attempting to do a gymnastic stunt on the railing of a second-floor hotel balcony died after she slipped and fell to the ground early Sunday morning.

Lee County sheriff's deputies do not expect foul play in the death of Molly Jerman, 23, of 1040 SW 20th Ave., who investigators said got a room at the Best Western in North Fort Myers with her friend Saturday night.

Todd Evans, 33, of 2043 Valley Drive, North Fort Myers, said after he and Jerman went into the room, she headed for the lanai, where she yelled out, "Watch to see what I can still do," according to police reports.

That's when Jerman attempted a hand stand on the balcony railing, Evans said. She then slipped off the railing and fell onto the patio below. Jerman was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Submitted on 01/18/2005

Submitted by: Ed
Reference: AP story posted on CNN 1/18/05

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Here's another good write-up on the would-be balcony gymnast.

Daniel said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat
A good story, we have it.

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
This is about as full a write-up as we are likely to get.

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