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Darwin Awards
2007 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Hong Kong woman falls into Volcano

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Darwin says, "Hmmm, woman, camera, noxious fumes from volcano. It has all the right elements to be a Darwin Award." Another submission.
ORIGINAL SUBMISSION:

"Eco-Tourism" as Darwinian Filter... or, The Best of Hong Kong!

Hong Kong - A Hong Kong tourist who died after she, fell into an active volcano in Africa had ignored warnings about getting too close, a news report said Sunday. The woman, who has been identified as 33-year-old Cecilia Cheng Siu-yan, climbed down about 15 metres into the crater in order take photographs of the molten lava lake on Friday afternoon, said the Sunday Morning Post.

She fell more than 200 metres onto a ledge of the Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is believed to have died instantly.

A rescue operation by a UN team was mounted but intense heat, gas and the unstable walls of the volcano hampered the effort.

According to the report in the Post, Cheng's body was eventually located around 5:50 pm Saturday, but was left on a ledge until Sunday after rescuers were forced to suspend the operation because it was getting dark.

French volcano expert Jacques Durieux was quoted as saying walking on the volcano was not normally dangerous but local guides travelling with Cheng said she had ignored warnings about going alone and without equipment such as ropes.

"She tried by herself without knowledge and without equipment to go down into the crater. They told her not to do so, but she didn't listen to them. That is a terrible mistake," he said.

Cheng is believed to have been travelling alone. A spokesman for the Immigration Department in Hong Kong said it had contacted her family in Hong Kong and offered to provide any assistance needed.

Also reported in:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-07/07/content_6342480.htm

and

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/08/1972776.htm?section=justin

Submitted on 07/08/2007

Submitted by: James Cooper
Reference: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/80455.html

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Going into an environment like an active volcano without a lot of knowledge and experience, and ignoring the warnings of people who know better, is classic Darwinian behavior as far as I'm concerned. I wonder if she managed to get any good photos before she died. Thanks for submitting this, James!


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Wow, now death by volcano is not that uncommon. But to go to the volcano instead of it coming to you is definitely different. Guess her goose was well and truly cooked. Thanks for the story, James. I vote a full award for this intrepid but foolish woman.


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