Serge had purchased the firework legally in Belgium, but then transported it illegally into the Netherlands. His father disputed the notion that Serge was careless, characterizing his son as a man who gave due consideration to his acts. A witness told reporters, "His face disappeared. If someone has no face left, you know it's serious."

Every year, another idiot gets nominated for a Darwin Award for this same reason. Please, readers, keep your itchy fingers off the triggers of these dangerous fireworks!

In the second item, the father of the victim even defends him by saying "he thought everything through".

---

http://frontpage.fok.nl/nieuws/72026
Translated by babelfish.altavista.com and Wendy Northcutt
Babelfish Translation

Firework kills in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
source: Teletekst, Monday 1 January 2007 @ 00.57
Shortly after midnight a man has perished, due to fireworks in his face. The victim died on the spot. The identity of the man has not yet been disclosed.

---

http://frontpage.fok.nl/nieuws/72143
Translated by babelfish.altavista.com and Wendy Northcutt
Babelfish Translation

Firework Killed (passed schietlont)
Posted rob (Rob)
source: General daily
Published: Thursday 4 January 2007 @ 15.09 A fire work killed one man, who had come to Belgium for a professional fireworks display. Reporters said his father and fiancee told reporters that they were aware that it is illegal to own a firework in the country.

The father of the deceased said [ed: heavily paraphrased] the firework was indeed illegal in Belgium, but it had come "from the factory." He characterized his son [ed: again, heavily paraphrased] as a man who acted only after due consideration.

But Serge had not thought this through. And there were no instructions on the mortar, because it was intended to be used by professionals. Serge was not aware that the wick was electronic, with no fuse delay.

Face gone
Serge held a flame to the wick, with his face directly over the fireworks catapult when it launched. His girlfriend saw him falling on the street, and knew something dreadful was wrong. His face had been knocked off, and he was probably dead at that point.

Serge's father said, "Let this be a lesson to everyone who buys fireworks in Belgium, be careful of what you have in your hands. This was somewhat stupid of Serge.' '

Serge was buried Saturday.

---

A more reliable article found by Moderator Charles
Babelfish Translation below:

Father fire work dead:
This a lesson lets be by FRANC OF PINE ELSEN BARENDRECHT -

bearing judges Serge Sluijters (36) came in the new year night for living then... The holiday photograph of Esther and serge. ... mortier in its face exploded to the Veersedijk in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, where the couple was at friends on a visit Esther (22): , I stood there two meters from. It a large flits and an enormous detonation were. Serge fell to. I called its name and I am continue call. I knew directly that it was wrong. Its face had disappeared. If someone no more face has, you get, however, that it is concerning.

He has seen himself nothing. Later I have held still long at him substantial and its hand.' ' The fire work was produced ashes in Belgium and indeed, in our country is illegal. The parents of serge, are zus Manon and its girlfriend Esther is the firsts that to confirm. But a piece professional fire work was, from the factory. , in the media the impression has been awoken that serge with oorlogstuig for rumbling was. That does our much pain, because he did everything well well-considered, ' ' says to its father Jef.

What serge fatal became, was the fact that instructions for use were lacking at the lont. Those almost a meter long, but it pale afterwards ` schietlont were, about which the vuurtje moved with a rapid speed. Serge did not know that this lont must be lighted electronically. Serge switched on the lont and hung still above the mortier then that less than a seconde was later launched. Father Jef: , this a lesson lets be for everyone whom fire work in Belgium obtains. Already are you still this way careful, your weet not what you have in hands. That has been some stupid of serge.' '

Esther and the family visit serge daily, until the burial Saturday. Mother Corry: , we do not see its face, but can its hands hold and him to touch. At that moment he is entirely at our.' 'Esther say: , in fact we had already married, thus we always said that. We two complete gelukkige have had years. He was really my male. This way careful. He always said that he independent wants me make, so that I could ensure mezelf if he there was ever no longer.' ' Esther, Manon and serges parents zoeken affectionately a photograph in the newspaper. , these found he himself nicely, ' ' Esther concerning a holiday photograph of them say both. , puts that but. Then he has also a face.' '

Submitted on 01/04/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: www.ad.nl, www.fok.nl 01-01-2007

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
He thought everything through, EXCEPT the important part, i.e. explosives in hand! Thanks for submitting. Let's see what my fellow mods make of this one.

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Hardly the most excellent story I've seen recently, but it IS different. I gather someone attempted to light the electronic "wick" with an open flame and the device went off instantaneously. Pretty funny! OK, I'll give it a nod, why not!

Jack said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I don't think that we've had a good fireworks fatality in a while, so I don't mind keeping this one. And - to be honest - my experiences with professional fireworks were with fuses lit by flame, so there it is.

Chip said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I could not verfify the link since I do not read Dutch but nothing looked like a fireworks accident story there. The write up leaves a lot to be desired. However, I will go with the others here and vote neutral to keep it in the mix. Thanks for the submission.

Shadow said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Dummy go boom? With all the warnings against using fireworks like this... you'd think people would know better! Thanks for the submission!

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