I couldn't pass this one up...certainly a potential Honorable Mention, if this story should pass muster!

Niagra Falls is known for its natural beauty but also for its dangerous rapids. Dozens have been killed going over the falls with and without barrels, so much so that such stunts may be considered too common. But He Yun Chang, a 38 year old performance artist from Bejing, figured he could push the envelope a bit. No mere barrel for the intrepid Mr. Chang...no, sir, he is a performance artist! In fact, not a week earlier, he had performed triumphantly at the University of Buffalo as part of an exhibition of contemporary Chinese Art...by sitting naked in a plexiglas box full of wet cement. "Ars gratis artis", I suppose...!

Anyone who has been to Niagra Falls can tell you it's generally chilly, and perhaps even performing artists bent on entering the water will wear some sort of protective wetsuit, but Mr. Chang had other plans. Figuring what worked before will work even better in this panoramic setting, he proceeded to wade into the water a mere 40-50 yards from the brink of the falls...stark NAKED...and anchored only by a single rope tied to some unknown object. His intention? To stay in the water for 24 hours! One concerned tourist on the shore figured that perhaps Mr. Chang was in the process of committing suicide and immediately called the police. Meanwhile, the Great Chang was preparing to give the 24-hour long performance of a lifetime when suddenly the flimsily anchored rope gave way! Our hapless hero no doubt suddenly realized the gravity of his situation and began frantically thrashing his way back to the shore. Fortunately, the Park Police arrived in time to help him out of the water. He was charged with disorderly conduct and exposing himself in public. Two University of Buffalo students who were filming the stunt were also charged. To what degree they were accomplices of Mr. Chang is unknown, but they were obviously inspired enough to come along for the ride.

Twenty-three hours and change short of the duration of his intended performance and twelve marbles short of a bag in the intelligence department, an embarrassed He Yun Chang can ponder just how close he came to joining dozens of others who have gone over the falls before him. Somehow I have no doubt we'll hear of Chang again in the future...!

Submitted on 10/27/2005

Submitted by: James G Petropoulos
Reference: Excite News, 25 October 2005

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Other
I can't score this because I submitted it! :-)

Greg said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Haha! At least you owned up! ;-) I kinda like this too.

Charles said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
The write-up is excellent... but I'm not sure that the stupidity is quite Darwin-grade, as he did take precautions -- admittedly insufficient precautions -- to prevent his premature exit over the Falls.

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I kinda like this one. IMO, performance artists - as a group - tend to be several bubbles off level, but Chang seems to have taken this to a new level (and almost a new low...).

Jorge said:
Maybe Toss: Other

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