A man we'll call Frank worked at an accounting firm, where he labored under his short-fused boss. After several years of hard work without a pay raise, he asked for one, but was shot down by his boss. That night, after a long period of alcohol consumption, Frank decided to do something about it.

After a quick stop at home to pick up some firecrackers, smoke bombs, and a ladder, Frank drove to his boss' house. He climbed up the ladder and made his way over the chimney.

He lit the firecrackers and smoke bombs and dropped them down the chimney. What could go wrong? he asked himself.

Frank could hear the fireworks going off, but he couldn't see anything; the chimney was very dark. So, he stuck his head into the chimney to get a better look.

As it turned out, his boss wasn't home at the time, and had closed the chimney's flue. The smoke from the fireworks had nowhere to go but up.

Realizing his inability to breath, Frank attempted to extricate himself from the chimney, but was unable too. After a few minutes of struggling to free himself, he lapsed into unconciousness.

His boss discovered the corpse the next day, still with its head stuck in the chimney.

Police determined death by accidental suffocation, but the rest of us determined death by terminal stupidity.

Submitted on 12/30/2006

Submitted by: Michael Thompson
Reference: Washington, 1995

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Urban Legend
Not the best UL I've ever seen, but I don't suppose there's any harm in keeping it!

Graham said:
Neutral: Urban Legend
I agree. It is also great cartoon fodder!

Jack said:
Neutral: Urban Legend
Let's see how the readers vote. Thanks, Michael.

Chip said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
Not only an Urban Legend (not the reason to toss it anyway) but unlikely in any event and not particularly funny to me. Thanks for sending it, Michael

Darwin said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Hahah! Well. It's just weird enough to ring my "truth" bells, and since it gave me a chuckle aloud, I'll have to give it a YES vote. Thanks for the submission, Michael!

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