Charles Darwin's Darwin Awards 
HOME
Darwin Awards
At-Risk Survivors
Slush Pile
2007 October Slush
(DA) The Enema Within
(?) Man killed on I-880 held onto back
(DA) Elephants makes Journalist Squash
(DA) When You Guard, Dont Try To steal
(DA) The Wrong Chin-Up Bar
(?) Breathalyser Game
(PA) Remember the Hindenburg
Reverend's Odd Autoasphyxia
Retired cop struck, killed by train
The Hitchhiker Who Became Roadkill
(?) light me, camera, action!
(DA) Ammo Dumps
Lenoir Man Electrocuted
“shredded hippy parts!”
(?) I need it like a hook in the head
Hang on there!
Garden Gnomw
Second time unlucky
Grab a ride
Brilliant Example of Propane Safety
I threw a hatchet in the air,
Dead man was in avocado tree for da
Surf's Up
'Skylarking' man in undies falls ni
Smoking and Abiding Kills!!!!
A simple repair
Syphoning gas with vacuum cleaner
Anti-Violence activist teen shot
Crocodile Indeed
Newtons Other Laws
Car kills two people fighting
Man Stuck in Ex-Wife's Window Dies
oversized load kills man of 75.
Dogs Shot man on hunting Trip
Two women burned while huffing comp
Fighting man, woman killed on I-595
Forbidden Fruit
(DA) Fatal a-Traction
flammable fraud attempt
Body struck repeatedly on I-880
Burglar slashes own throat
Man accidently shoots himself in ba
Car Surfing
Dumped on while dumping
Car Capers
Pervert obsessed with bondage sex d
Theif struck by train
Coleman Stoves are for Outside Only
A garage sale??
No flashlight? No Problem
Pheasant & Highway
Gas station.. close call
Be gateful it's not you
Dying for a leak?
Wheelchair Whacko!
CVS--Crook Vent Stuck!
The invulnerable crossing guard
Tight Chimney
Malfunction Junction
2 Construction Workers Drown in Pon
Their truck was da bomb!
Tuck and Roll
Woman looses arm after a loin bite
Camouflage or not
Older Slush 
 
~ Random Story ~
Email Alert!
NEW! Gift Shop
Rules  Search
Contact Darwin
Submit a Story
Philosophy Forum
Home

  

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!

2 Construction Workers Drown in Pon

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

2 Construction Workers Drown In Pond Deputies: 1 Man Dared Another To Swim Across POSTED: 10:10 am EDT October 1, 2007 UPDATED: 3:11 pm EDT October 1, 2007 Recommend (40)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- St. Johns County deputies say one worker bet another that he couldn't swim across a retention pond next to a construction site. When the first man disappeared under the water, his friend dove in to try and save him. Both died. The incident happened just after 9 a.m. Monday in a retention pond on Stratton Boulevard, next to where the Golden Lake Condominiums are being built.

Channel 4's Jim Piggott was told one man jumped in the water to cool off. "The second then dared or made a bet with him that he couldn't swim to the other side of the pond," St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Chuck Mulligan said. "At some point in time in the water, one subject went under water. The second subject, his friend, went in after him. And then, of course, both men went under." Other workers called 911. Rescue personnel called divers, who located both men. Robert Richardson, 31 -- the first man in the water -- had a pulse and was rushed to Flagler Hospital, but he died a few hours later. Deputies said the second man, 26-year-old Melvin Harris, could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Both men were from Jacksonville and employees of Thornton One Time Stucco.Constrr

Submitted on 10/01/2007

Submitted by: Doug Wood
Reference: News4jax.com

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
Love it! Hate it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
So who collects on the bet since they both earned Darwin nominations? Thanks, Doug!


Chip said:
Neutral: Too Common
Many of the elements of this story are way too common, but I don't think I have ever seen such an incident at a retaining pond. Aren't they usually fairly small? In any case, I will be neutral on this one and see what my fellow moderators say. Thanks for sending the story, Doug


James said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
The ol' "Betcha can't _____" gag is certainly present, but there's no evidence of any stupidity here. Retention ponds are small but somewhat deep, and unless there was some sort of gimmick attached to the wager (ie "betcha can't swim to the next site underwater the whole way"), there's no reason he couldn't have made it. He may have gotten a cramp, heart attack, &c. Right now there's not enough info for me to go DA on this, but do keep us posted in the event more information surfaces (no pun intended)! Thanks, Doug!


Graham said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
This one sounds like an unfortunate accident to me . . .


Shadow said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
I have to agree its very common and it doesnt say who witnessed the event if these two were the only ones there... who witnessed it? anyway thanks for the submission


The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom

Keep yourself out of the gene pool!
A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item!
Friends don't let friends reproduce!
$13 for Pack of 4

 

 

Slush Pile
Slush Pile Rejects

HomeRulesFAQsAwardsSlushSite Map
DarwinAward | HonorableMention | PersonalAccount | UrbanLegend