Zambia: Man electrocuted in Kalomo Drilling oil from the ground is very dangerous and hazardous, but extracting oil from an electric transformers will not only turn you into fossil fuel but will win you a fossil award. A man in his 40s was on Monday morning found electrocuted to death at the Zesco transformer after attempting to steal oil from the device near the Kalomo Food Reserve Agency sheds in Kalomo. Police sources in Kalomo confirmed the incident to ZANIS, but said the deceased, whose body is now lying in the district hospital mortuary, has not been yet identified.

The man who was being denied a chance to win the award by the justice department has been dying to win a Darwin award. His first attempt after release was an attempt to board on a speeding vehicle but was not fast enough and sustained severe injuries after crashing on the tarmac on New Year eve. Instead of being admitted to a mental institution, he was admitted to Kalomo District Hospital. This was however not going to deny him a chance to win Darwin. For a week in Hospital he probably had a chance to reflect on what he did right the first time. "How can I make it even more stupid?" He must have wondered. With This new determination, he managed to escape from the Hospital and a Zesco transformer was the best way to get on the Darwin list. He was advantaged in three ways. 1, he didn't have protective gear for handling the transformer, 2 he didn't have the patience to wait for a blackout and 3 he didn't have the ingenuity to create one.

The deceased was found dead at the Zesco transformer with burns and the same injuries on Monday morning by security guards manning the sheds who later informed police over the incident.

I think this early entrant is the winner because he tried to take himself out TWICE! Goes to prove "if at first you don't succeed, try again". I really think the police when trying to arrest him after the car jumping incident, they were trying to protect him but I guess its true that even the most intelligent law enforcers are not up to task with the ingenuity of a fool. The only time he was safe was when He was in Jail.

Such incidents are common in Africa. I come from Kenya and am trying to find a story of someone I saw on Tv who tried to steal oil from a trnsformer in Nairobi Kenya during a blackout but then the power came back sooner than he had expected and he was fried. As soon as I get it I will submit

Submitted on 01/08/2010

Submitted by: Robert Gichira
Reference: lusakatimes.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Trying to steal oil from a transformer? Gadzooks that's stupid! Granted many people probably don't realize what it's there for, but you'd think if a box carrying thousands of volts of electricity is filled with oil that it's there for a reason. It's meant to keep the transformer cool (otherwise it might explode or burn) and also insulate the high voltage components. This is a new one for me. Thanks, Robert!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
OK, we've pushed the stupidity envelope even higher! I was expecting another wire theft story, but stealing oil from a transformer? What an ultra-maroon!!!! Thanks, Robert!

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