The man in question, while presumably being of sound mind and body before the event -- though not allowing for the usually copious amounts of alcohol consumed around this time of year -- felt compelled to examine the business end of a fireworks launcher in the midst of the celebrations themselves.

Admittedly, the AP story does not mention whether all necessary safety precautions were being adhered to by the organisers, but Mr. Woong's actions, nonetheless, are noteworthy.

Hope you publish this.

Many thanks.

Tuesday February 8, 3:11 PM

Report: Firecrackers kill man in Malaysia as Lunar New Year celebrations begin

A fireworks explosion left a man dead from severe head injuries outside a nightclub as Malaysia's ethnic Chinese population started preparing for Lunar New Year celebrations, a news report said.

Woong Wan Loong, 29, peered into a fireworks launching tube containing an exploding projectile that could shoot as high as a 10-storey building, Bernama news agency reported.

The device went off, hurling Woong about 10 meters (30 feet) backward and killing him immediately, Mohd Noor Masdar, a senior police office told Bernama.

Police said they were tracking down patrons of the suburban Kuala Lumpur nightclub where the incident occurred. Sales of fireworks to the public are banned in Malaysia, but they are usually available despite police crackdowns and seizures.

Woong had been watching people set off fireworks outside the club with his wife and a friend, Bernama reported.

Ethnic Chinese Malaysians traditionally usher in the Lunar New Year, which falls on Wednesday this year, with noisy fireworks. The practice has declined somewhat in the last decade, after officials began enforcing the ban more thoroughly.

Most Malaysians are ethnic Malay. Chinese _ the country's largest minority _ make up about 30 percent of the population.

Submitted on 02/09/2005

Submitted by: Azhar Sukri
Reference: Associated Press, Feb 8, 2005

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Daniel said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
We haven't had a really good fireworks story for a while, and this one is. A firework capable of tossing the body 30 meters should cause some clue that it is lit and dangerous.

Jack said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Ah, the sweet smell of fireworks going off. First fireworks fatality of the year (although I'm sure that we'll see more...)

Charles said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Granted, this is the first Chinese New Years one we have received... but there seem to be two or three exactly like this in July each year from the States, and one or two in November from the UK. Still... With the proviso that we will see more like this, I think this one might be worth keeping...

Kelly said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award

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