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Darwin Awards
2006 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Oil Barrel burn pile

2006 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

I work as a Paramedic in A southern County of Michigan. One day last summer in 2005, I was called to the scene of an explosion in a barn. The victim, an elderly gentleman, was attempting to cut the lid off an oil barrel with an acetyline torch. Despite heeding warnings from both the barrel label as well as several farm hands, he decided to cut the barrel WITHOUT first venting it. As is often the case, oil has a tendency to burn/explode when introduced to hot flames. The oil barrel was launched straight up into the air and through the barn roof, striking the victim in the head on the way up. The barrel landed approximately 10 feet away from the barn and was smoldering when I arrived. The victim/cutter was laying on the ground, incoherent but alive. We transported him to the hospital where he was released later that day with only a concussion. Not a darwin award winner, but definitely worth an Honorable Mention.

Submitted on 04/17/2006

Submitted by: Charles Brown
Reference: WItnessed personal account

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
Love it! Hate it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

Sheryl said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
Thanks for taking the time to write up and submit the story, Charles. I'm not sure what my fellow Moderators will say on this one but to me, even as a PA, it's too common.

James said:
Neutral: Personal Account
I will keep this as a personal account only because of the cartoony visual (can't help myself there! :-) The fact that this rube lived through having a 55 gallon barrel smack him upside the head while it shot through the roof of the barn tells me that there's "nothin' but solid bone between them shoulders"! I'm amused enough for a PA!

Jorge said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention

Jack said:
Neutral: Personal Account
I agree with James. The visuals are too good to let this one by. Thanks, Charles.

Tracy said:
Neutral: Personal Account
I'm with James's (very funny) reason

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