In Wauwatosa, a 57-year-old man was electrocuted by a downed power line in his backyard near N. 116th and W. Center streets, said Lt. Gerald Witkowski of the Wauwatosa Police Department.

The man was identified Wednesday morning as Robert Summy.

A downed power line had sparked a fire in Summy's back yard, said Mary Mosby, Summy's neighbor of 15 years.

"I had my husband call 911 and tell the fire department to come because (Summy) had a wire down on the ground," Mosby said. "They said, 'Well, that's a live wire. Don't go back there, and don't touch it.' "

Mosby said her husband warned Summy not to go into the backyard, but he did anyway.

"We saw him go back there and next thing you know we saw him fall back," Mosby said.

Emergency responders arrived at the home around 6 p.m. and attempted to resuscitate Summy en route to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later.

Submitted on 09/19/2005

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.jsonline.com/news/s

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Greg said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I was about to toss this as another pwer cable attempted theft, but no! This guy certainly had his finger on the self-destruct button. I think it's worthy of going to the vote.

Jack said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
It's been quite a while since we've had a case of someone picking up a live wire while trying to put out a fire, so I agree that it's DA worthy. Let our readers decide.

Kelly said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
This way too common an incident for me to agree with giving an award for it.

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
The late Mr. Summy's neighbors had already called the Fire Department. They WARNED Summy NOT to go back and touch the wire. He did so anyway. This could have been a complete non-incident, and the deceased was 57, certainly old enough to know better. This is first class stupidity, IMO, and I will give this one the nod...

Charles said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I have to agree with Greg, Jack, and James. Yes, it is far too common that this sort of thing happens... but the fact that he was warned increases the stupidity to near-Darwin grade.

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