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2007 October Slush
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I threw a hatchet in the air,
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2007 Slush Pile

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Syphoning gas with vacuum cleaner

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Vacuum cleaner sparked explosion that burned athlete Sarah Muench and Don Ketchum The Arizona Republic Oct. 9, 2007 12:00 AM

CHANDLER - A spark from a vacuum cleaner that was being used to siphon gasoline from a car's tank created the explosion that seriously burned a Chandler High football player over the weekend, a Chandler Fire Department official said Monday.

Chandler High School's Dion Jordan, The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona tight end in 2006 who as a senior is perhaps the state's top college-football prospect this season, was hospitalized Saturday with third-degree burns to more than 40 percent of his body.

Chandler coach Jim Ewan and fire officials said that after the team's morning practice Saturday, the 6-foot-6, 215-pound Jordan and a few teammates were attempting to siphon gasoline from a vehicle parked in a team member's garage using a vacuum cleaner when a spark from the vacuum caused the explosion.

"It's a bad enough explosion that if you had it inside the house it would blow the windows out," said Battalion Chief Dan Couch, a Chandler Fire spokesman. "It's a quick, intense explosion."

Jordan was evacuated by helicopter about 1 p.m. from the teammate's home in the 1100 block of West Gary Court to Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix.

Ewan and his wife visited Jordan at the hospital Monday afternoon and came away with encouraging news.

"The doctors were going to do some skin grafts on the arms, but apparently are now going to let them heal on their own," Ewan said.

He also said doctors had planned to do skin grafts on Jordan's legs, which took the brunt of the fire and explosion, but are postponing that decision for a week to see if the legs show more signs of healing on their own.

Ewan said Jordan, who may be hospitalized for a month, was upbeat and positive.

"He's going to do whatever it takes to get through this and we are going to be here to help him," Ewan said.

Couch said the explosion was so intense it melted part of the vacuum cleaner. No one else was injured.

Couch said as a general safety tip that it's not safe to work with gasoline, and someone who needs to siphon a gas tank should seek professional assistance from a mechanic.

Submitted on 10/09/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1009evburned1009.html 10/09/07

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

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Graham said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I've always said kids should study more and leave the sports for later. Case in point! This gives "stupid" a whole new meaning!


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Well, can't give a Darwin Award but certainly an honorable mention since he did not eliminate himself from the gene pool even though he tried very hard. Give the guy an A for inventiveness and an A+ for extreme stupidity. Thanks for sending this our way.


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