Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive (near miss)."

(26 January 2007, Texas) In a world full of wonders, man invented bordom. So work time is sometimes play time. If you work at a pet store, you snuggle the puppies. If you work in an office, you put naughty bits on the copy machine. If you work for an arc welding company? A plastic bucket, welding materials, and a single spark can combine for a playful mishap.

"I was on the computer when I heard the boom," said a resident of the trailer park adjacent to the welding shop. "It shook my house. The whole neighborhood could feel it!"

Just for kicks, a 30-year-old welder and four co-workers had attempted to blow up a plastic bucket. Our man placed a striker, a spark-generating device used to start a welder's torch, in the plastic bucket and sealed it. Then he filled the bucket with acetylene, an explosive gas used for welding. The plan was to toss the bucket in the air, and watch it explode when the striker sparked.

Before that happened , however, our Darwin wannabe inadvertently kicked the plastic bucket, and the striker struck a spark. BOOM. The explosive force turned the lid of the bucket into a whirling saw that flew through the air and struck the man in his right arm, nearly severing it. He also sustained lacerations to his right leg.

No one else was injured in the blast, and no charges were filed, as it was felt that the perpetrator of the incident had already been sufficiently punished.

He kicked the bucket.

Prank goes awry, results in explosion

By TJ Aulds The Daily News Published January 27, 2007

HITCHCOCK — A welder who police say decided to have a little fun after work Friday almost severed his right arm when a prank went terribly awry.

A combination of a plastic bucket, welding materials and a spark made for an explosive mishap, police said.

Hitchcock police said the 30-year-old man and four co-workers at Craig Fry Arc Welding, in the 10000 block of Jay Road, were attempting to blow up a plastic bucket for kicks when the fun and games turned serious.

Police Sgt. J.J. Jenkins said the injured man placed a striker — a metal device used to start a welder’s torch — in a plastic bucket and sealed it. He then attempted to fill the bucket with Acetylene, a highly explosive gas used for metal welding.

Witnesses told police the plan was to toss the bucket in the air after it had been filled and watch it explode as the striker went off.

At some point, though, the unidentified injured man kicked the plastic bucket, which prompted a spark to emit form the striker.

The explosive force turned the cap of the plastic bucket into a flying saw that struck the man in his right arm, nearly severing it, police said. He also suffered cuts to his right leg, Jenkins said.

“I was just sitting in my house playing on the computer when I heard the boom,” said Iris Simpson, who lives in a trailer next door to the welding shop.

“It shook my house. Then we all came running out to the porch to see what happened. The whole neighborhood could feel it.”

No one else was injured in the blast. Jenkins said no charges were expected to be filed.

A PHI Air Ambulance took the man to John Sealy Hospital in Galveston, where he was listed in critical condition Friday night.

Submitted on 01/27/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Galveston (TX) Daily News

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
This works for me. A wanton and deliberate act of sheer stupidity. The victim obviouisly had NO regard for safety, despite presumably having the requisite training in welding. Whereas this fellow will probably get a pink slip, he'll best serve himself and society by spending his idle time at the public library where he might increase his intelligence (boy, I'm an optimist today, what?)! A solid HM. What more can I say?

Graham said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
You gotta love it! This is the best example of human stupidity I've read in a long time. In a universe so full of wonder, humans invented boredom. Quite astonishing. Someone give that man a coconut . . .

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Anyone want to bet that we;ll be seing this on Mythbusters.com?

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