He was also addicted to fishing, to the extent where it ruled his life, deciding where he lived, went on holiday and the time of year he went on holiday.

Unfortunately my father had the idea that the lower a blood sugar the better. The average human blood sugar level is 6mmol. My fathers average was about 3.5. This meant he spent most of his existence in a state known as insulin shock in America, or hypoglaecemic attack elsewhere. He had been warned about this by his doctor, my mother (an ex nurse) and myself (also a diabetic.

The day he went fishing for the last time was in his favourite spot, a trout lake called Hazelhead in the North Yorkshire Moors, near RAF Fylingdales. It was so hot his favourite fishing buddy would not go with him. So he went alone...

Now the thing is that sensible anglers do not tend to go fishing alone, in case of trouble. If they do they usually own a life jacket, indeed my father had contemplated buying a self inflating life jacket, but decided not to.

As far as can be determined he went more severly hypo than normal, lost his bearings and walked straight off a ledge wearing thigh length waders, all of which resulted in his removing himself from the gene pool before he made any further mistakes. He was found at approximately 9pm at night by his fishing buddy who went up to check on how he was doing.

To sum up...

1) Diabetics should learn that too low a blood sugar is as bad as too high a blood sugar.

2) Do not go fishing on your own.

3) If you do, wear a life jacket and use the long handled landing net you bought yourself.

4) Thigh length waders are not realy a good idea!

Submitted on 12/08/2007

Submitted by: Mike Carter
Reference: Whiteby Evening Gazette, Personal, 9th July 2005

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
It sounds like your stubborn father went out with a smile, doing what he liked to do. But if he hadn't been so stubborn and listened to you and your mother he probably would have had plenty more chances to go fishing. Thanks for sharing this, Mike.

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Indeed, Mike, your late father certainly went out the way he would have wanted to! Nevertheless, he WAS warned! :-) I too thank you for sharing!

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