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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!

acetylene torch

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A student was bored with his metal shop class, thought of a creative way to entertain himself. He took an acetylene torch and managed to fill his lungs with the flamable gas. He then proceeded to take the striker (a device used to start the flame), and held it to his lips. One can only imagine that the student had planned on looking like a huge bic ligher, but the results were not quite so amusing, at least to the student. Bystanders heard a muffled explosion, the student headed for the drinking fountain, but collapsed before getting there. He died on the way to the hospital. The postmortem exam revealed the heat from the acetylene had seared the alveoli (lining of the lugs that allows the exchange of oxygen with carbon dioxide) thus 'sealing' his fate.

Submitted on 05/23/2008

Submitted by: George Smith
Reference: Fresno Bee - news article - 1968(?)

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Candi said:
Maybe Toss: Personal Account
According to WebMD section on burns, chemical, this is *theoretically* possible, but this doesn't seem quite real to me. Thank you anyway, George, and submit again.


Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Acetylene is a very volatile gas, even a spark can set it off. I could see such an accident as a possibility, and even if it is an urban legend I think this is original enough to keep around. I would love to see some verification of the story but unfortunately I don't think the Fresno Bee has archives online from 1968... Thanks, George.


Graham said:
Maybe Toss: Personal Account
Hmm . . . I'm not sure about this one inasmuch as I am not convinced that acetylene would actually burn in the lungs. Some prof would have been nice.


James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
My wife used an acetylene torch in art school. It's every bit as dangerous as they say it is, and extreme safety measures are required. Maybe this fellow was looking for a new high? Anyway, it will wash as a PA, and if Darwin likes it one of us could probably contact the Sacramento Bee for more info on their archives!


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