By Josh Noel Tribune staff reporter Published May 8, 2007, 9:15 PM CDT

Tyler Delves once set a bonfire behind his home that grew so large it drew firefighters.

They damped it back and left, but not before Delves posed for a photo beside the firefighters with a thumbs-up and a crooked smile.

He was proud.

"He was pretty wild," said Jillian Delves, 24, his wife of six months. "Always exciting, always adventurous."

But the way Tyler Delves, 29, lived was the way he died Saturday night during a bachelor party in his back yard. He was killed when illegal commercial-grade fireworks exploded in his face as he tried to figure out why they hadn't gone off yet, authorities said.

Delves and about 10 friends had gone to a sports bar for food, drinks and to watch a Bulls playoff game Saturday before returning to his home in unincorporated Downers Grove for fireworks and a bonfire, DuPage County Coroner Pete Siekmann said.

About 10:40 p.m., the first round of fireworks went up as expected, but the second appeared to flame out, authorities said. After cautioning everyone to hang back for a moment, Delves approached, looked into the cylinder holding the explosive and almost immediately suffered "massive head trauma," Siekmann said.

He was declared dead at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. No autopsy is being done, but a toxicology analysis will look for traces of alcohol or drugs, the coroner said.

Submitted on 05/09/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Chicago Tribune, May 8, 2007

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
While this story is one of an accident, there is some stupidity involved inasmuch as the schmuck was using "illegal" explosives. In any event, it was a pretty dumb thing to do, i.e. picking up unexploded explosives. Not any more though . . .

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I'm teetering on agreeing outright with graham and giving this fellow a fighting chance at a DA. It seems his entire lifestyle was centered around such "wild" antics, and it was just a matter of time. As far as can be ascertained, he hadn't yet bred with his young widow, either (who seemed to know what she was getting into). In the end, this fellow was big on bravado and small on brains...

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Normally I would dismiss this story as just another *yawn* fireworks gone bad, but the fact that Mr. Delves seemed to have charted a definite path to an early grave and the fact that these were illegal commercial grade explosives that he was playing "blow my face off" with puts this one a cut above. I'm going to vote to keep this one and give Tyler a DA for stupidity and persistence above and beyond. Thanks for sending the story.

Jorge said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
This happens way too often nowadays

Shadow said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I was teetering to, and with no actual news report or websight attached I wantd to know the dirt so i found it. Tyler was pleaded with by his friends not to go near the firework. As of the report alcohol is nt known as the factor (though I'll bet it will be.) For the fact that he ignored the warnings of his buddies and they went after the firework anyway I vote him in. I also share the link for Wendy or the others if they like. Thanks for the submission Josh! http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/430805.php?contentType=4&contentId=478237

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