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(UL)Roping A Deer
(Hmmm)Tiger, not lion, kills 1, injurs 2
(DA)Slippery When Wet
(DA)Pulled into the abyss
(Hmm)White Spirit IS Flammable
(?)VA Man Shot to Death While Beating
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(?)Let Me Get a Better Look!
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Rafts, Rivers, Cement and Bridges
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Picnic Lunch
Holy Flaming DOH!
gangsta guns & fireworks don't mix
The high cost of gas
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Auger to Heaven
Drunken driver saves beer
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Miami of Ohio University...
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Fire up the BBQ !
(several)
Man stabs self while fleeing
The Faster Method
Kinky Sex, Shocking Death
highway worker nearly earns award
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1 shoot closes slaying case
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When Couch Potatoes Take Root.
two for one
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Do Tell
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Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
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Making Deadly Gas at Home
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vodka+viagra death
Fake hanging becomes all too real
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Semi-Conductor
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diver drowns for golf balls
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Go Get the Lawnmower
Next Time Buy a Ticket!
dumest showoff driver ever
Couldn't wait to get down and party
Truck-a-Luck
dangerous dog food
They Ain't no Bo and Luke Duke!
The Blue - Handed Pikeman
Un-happy slapper
Driver found unbuckled in crash, bu
Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
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A Crocodile Poacher gets scrambled.
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elevator surfer
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New year buffaloe ride
freek accident
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Slow Learner
Hangings should never be mocked up
Strong finger for firing a pistol
unsuccessful robber shoots self in
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Don't want to fall out of this bed!
Abused car strikes back
Goat Overcomes Man
New years Nose Ring In Brain
Dog Love
Homosexual Couple Hospitalized
Listen to your parents!
Run over getting the bins in
Man breaks neck in pool accident
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

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

White Spirit IS Flammable

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Darwin says, "Hmm. This is surely stupid, Jamie, and I appreciate your bringing this to my attention. However, I can't seem to see it in the jocular light needed to write it into a Darwin Award. So, it's a worthy candidate for the readers of the Slush Pile.""
A drunken man died after setting fire to himself in a fruitless bid to prove white spirit was not flammable, an inquest heard.

Michael Toye doused himself with the fluid during an argument with friend Paul Deacon before putting a cigarette lighter to his trousers.

Mr Deacon said he exttinguished the ensuing flames but was asked not to call for help by Mr Toye, who said: 'I'm all right, I just want a fag and a beer.' They were drinking at Mr Toye's flat on April 12 last year at the time of the dispute

The 43-year-old applied the white spirit – a derivative of paraffin – while sitting in an armchair and his chest, arms and thighs were soon engulfed by flames.

Mr Deacon threw basins of water over him and wrapped him in a blanket after he refused medical help, the inquest heard. An ambulance took him to a burns unit at Salisbury District Hospital the next morning, but he died six days later from pneummonia caused by his injuries.

A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded by mid-Hampshire coroner Grahame Short.

Toye, from Hedge End, near Southampton, had not understood the consequences of his actions, said Mr Short. 'It was an act of possible bravado,' he added.

Which I am sure you all agree is a perfect Darwin Award Nominee !

Submitted on 01/11/2008

Submitted by: Jamie Rollinson
Reference: Metro Newspaper (London) - 11/01/08

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Thanks for sending this in, Jamie. We've already received this story a few times but I think this provides a bit more detail than what we've gotten so far.


James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I'll bite! Thanks, Jamie!


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