We had used this tool a few times without incident and the weeds grew back after several months. Firstly my Nephew who is 18 years old, volunteered to do the job. He turned the gas on and ignited the gas. Quite straight forward except for the fact that he pointed the end at his feet, the gas ignited and he heated his shoes. Luckily he pulled the flame away quick enough not to cause to any damage. A few days later I went to do the job out the back garden. All went well with no incidents. Then my brother who is 40 years old, came home from work and saw what I was doing. He said to me, "hang on, I'll be back now", which he went off for a few minutes. He came back with a bottle and started pouring this substance onto the patio. As he was doing this I was talking to my mother with my back to him with the gas burner turned off, I then turned to face him and asked him what he was pouring when he told me it was Brake Cleaner for cleaning the brakes on vehicles, which is flamable. As I was about to show my alarm the patio ignited into a fireball, him with it. We managed to put him out and the flames, but he had burned his hands and legs. The weeds survived, but the nice blooming flowers didn't. Next time I'll do the weeding when everyone is out, it'll be safer!

Submitted on 10/07/2006

Submitted by: Michael
Reference: Personal Account, 2006

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
This is a rather funny story, Michael, and the fact that the flowers got torched but the weeds survived makes it all the more funny! It seems everyone wants to play with gadgets, and the more dangerous the gadget, the more "play value" it seems to have! I concur with you...sned the family on a LONG errand and do the weeds safely!

Jorge said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account

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