Wendy/Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive. Unfortuantely the cited news reference and comment were no longer available to me in December, but I did find several other sources of information."

category: electricity, macho

Firstly I would like to apologize for not writing sooner.. but I haven't done anything Darwinian stupid recently!

Apparently this guy didn't realize rappelling down high voltage power lines was dangerous.

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- A man was shocked while descending a rappel rope on a high voltage power line tower behind his house on Monday.

Eugene Scott Duncan was rapelling down the side of the tower when he hit the power line and fell to the ground, according to a press release from the Raleigh County Sheriff's Department.

Duncan was taken to Raleigh General Hospital. American Electric Power employees told police the line carries as much as 46,000 volts. Police continue to investigate and may charge Duncan with trespassing on the line.

Theres one detail that I find shocking about this story... that nobody submitted it, despite the comment under the news reference.

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- A man was shocked while descending a rappel rope on a high voltage power line tower behind his house on Monday. Eugene Scott Duncan was rapelling down the side of the tower when he hit the power line and fell to the ground, according to a press release from the Raleigh County Sheriff's Department. Duncan was taken to Raleigh General Hospital. American Electric Power employees told police the line carries as much as 46,000 volts. Police continue to investigate and may charge Duncan with trespassing on the line.

http://samato56.multiply.com/journal/item/69

Eugene Duncan, 59, of Crab Orchard passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2006. Eugene was born on Feb. 15, 1947, in Beckley, the son of the late Doliver and Mary Alice Bryant Duncan.He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Vietnam. In addition to his parents, a brother, Clyde Worix, and an uncle, Creed Bryant, preceded him in death. Those left to cherish his memory include his son Eugene "Scott" Duncan and wife, Christy, and their children, Jennifer, Austin, Dakota and James, all of Glen Morgan; four brothers, Frank "Doodle" Worix and wife, Ann, Howard Worix, Robert Worix and Doyle Worix; special friends James and Sandra Furrow, Stephen Holt and Debbie Ulrey, and Greg Sprouse and family. Service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2006, at at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Brian Harmon officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.Friends may gather with the family 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Submitted on 06/03/2009

Submitted by: John
Reference: http://wvgazette.com/News/200906020155 06/02/2009

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James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
We get all sorts of stories about people BASE jumping, bungee jumping, and rappelling, but I have never seen one about someone choosing to rappel down a power line tower! 46,000 volts is a LOT of juice, and I'll bet he smoked the whole way down. This IS borderline (the write-up, mainly), but the visual is totally there for me so I will elect to keep it!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Rappeling. Down a high voltage power tower. MORON! Thanks, John!

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