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2008 February Slush
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Inspiration + Youth + Explosives =
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
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Inspiration + Youth + Explosives =

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A personal account, and one which I am not so proud. Throughout human history I wonder how many epic failures and disasters have started with the phrase "Hey! I've got a great idea!". Well my great idea nearly took my head off.

At the impressionable age of 12, some friends and I were playing with penny bangers. Those old enough to recall them before they were banned in the UK will recall the 50p boxes of 50 tissue paper wrapped impact explosives that made a nice BANG on hitting a hard surface. As previously stated I had a stroke of genius. I purchased 20 boxes, 1000 bangers, and got a tissue...

My plan was to empty the contents of each banger into the tissue and make a single large banger, or "bomb" as it would now be called. In hindsight, putting my face REALLY close was a mistake.

At the 850ish mark a stray grain of this volatile powder caused the whole thing to go up.

I think my vision was the first to return, that was within 20 seconds or so. My hearing took a further 3 minutes to get beyond ringing. Of course by then all I could hear was the sound of my 2 friends dying of laughter in a corner. Partly cause of what had happened. Partly because I had a blacked out face with white circles round my eyes where my glasses had been.

Submitted on 02/28/2008

Submitted by: James Pearson
Reference:

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
I remember those things. Around here they were called "fun snaps", and a quick Google search shows you can still find them for sale. I'm a bit surprised to hear they've been banned in the UK but maybe that's because a lot of kids over there tried doing exactly what you did. I admit that as a kid I tried that as well, but I think I only combined 10 or so together, certainly not 1000. I only wish I could see a photo of the aftermath. Your description is priceless. Thanks for a great story, James!


James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Well, gunpowder IS gunpowder, after all! Put enough of it together and light it, and BANG! It's all the funnier that you were ALMOST done building the mother of all fun snaps when it went off! Thanks for a good laugh, James!


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