A British man who was fascinated with explosives blew himself up after putting a home-made pipe bomb in his mouth and lighting the fuse.

Kevin Barnes, 20, of Joseph Priestly Court in Daventry, took the device into his mouth and flicked a lighter as his petrified flatmates and girlfriend looked on.

The bomb, which might have been created using instructions from a book on explosives, then blew up, causing him serious head injuries, and he died on the same day.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Northamptonshire Coroner Anne Pember said she was satisfied he had not intended to take his own life.

Mr Barnes was described as a risk-taker with a history of harming himself and the inquest heard he had a short temper.

His girlfriend, Elizabeth Elliot, said: "My opinion was that Kevin was mucking about but didn't actually mean for the pipe bomb to go off.

Submitted on 09/04/2006

Submitted by: James R. McKenzie
Reference: www.CrazyNew.net

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Here's a MUCH better news link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/3007751.stm The late Mr. Barnes was apparently NOT suicidal, but did have a history of harming himself. The possibility of mental illness certainly detracts from this story, but he was apparently high-functioning enough to make his own decisions, so I will go neutral DA on this one. Thanks, James!

Sheryl said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Thanks for the story, James. I'm very neutral on this one. While he was not suicidal (as decided by the courts), a history of harming himself doesn't exactly endear me to this story. I hope more information surfaces about his background.

Fitzroy said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I'm neutral here, though I interpret the history self-injury more as innate recklessness than a suicidal tendency. Obviously we have little information to work with, but at least the relevant tidbit is official. My thinking is that if an Honorable Mention goes to a little bomb on a football helmet, a Darwin Award ought to go to a big bomb placed in the mouth (unless more information emerges skewing this back toward a deliberate suicide.)

Jorge said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award

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