Global Warming awarenes an environemental concern have drawn the evolutionnary path of man to be closer to nature and treat it with more respect... And this man's story proves that using the great means against mother nature can be very dangerous.

This story happens in Perpignan, South of France. An 83 years-old man decided to cut a tree in his garden : he wanted to have heating wood for winter. The tree was big an tough. He eventually brought it down with a chainsaw and tried to cut it into smaller pieces. As he did not manage to cut through the mighty trunk, he decided to use the great means...

He came to the idea of manufacturing an explosive device that would end his problems, dramatically, with this tree stump big enough to fill his stock of wood for the winter. According to preliminary results of the investigation, the octogenarian had emptied hunting cartridges then pourred the powder into a tube, making an artisanal form of dynamite. After connecting the tube to a wick, he had punctured the tree trunk and placed the tube inside. The idea in itself was already suicidal stupid but wait for what's next...

According to the police, the man would have had the greatest difficulties to light the wick. An operation made difficult by the violent gusts of wind. So much so that he has not hesitated to use a torch to start the spark !

Except that, as you guess (after all it's Darwin Awards), everything did not go quite as planned...

Perhaps it is the power of the flame of the tool that caused the accident? Or is it the explosive device itself was not very well-made ? We will never know as the artisanal dynamite left him no chance in exploding immediately, before the victim had time to get away ...

Seriously injured, the man was quickly rescued by firefighters. When they arrived at the scene of the accident, the octogenarian was in serious condition: three fingers and one foot were severed as a result of the explosion. He also suffered multiple injuries to the eye and chest. Despite the violence of the shock and serious injuries, "his life is not in danger," said the Commissioner.

The octogenarian was admitted to the emergency hospital in Perpignan where he was to undergo several operations...

That man is worth at least an honorable mention and as he is 83, the chances for him to add his genetic pool to the population are very low : let's hope for the human species that he dosen't get Viagra !

Submitted on 11/28/2008

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: L'Indépendant (French, South) 23/11/2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Explosives are common, but this guy went above and beyond the call of stupidity! Even if he's procreated already, hopefully the offspring escaped the "idiot" gene! Thanks, and submit again!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Worthy of Wile E. Coyote! For a minute, I thought this was a similar story (where a kindly old gent fell off a tractor trying to pull down a tree stump for a neighbor), but this most certainly isn't! This gent showed creativity! I think he's worthy of an HM!

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