Around four o'clock that afternoon I started hearing yells of excitement coming from near my tent. Now normally I'm not the particularly curious type but considering our trip earlier I was intrigued as to what could have people so hyped up. When I opened the tent and walked up to where the yells were coming from I saw one of our older members(when I say older I mean 17 or so), whom I will call Ben, swinging a hammer on the end of a bungie chord at a cactus of all things... Now I'm not the most intelligent human being, but I have common sense enough to know that swinging a blunt instrument at something that could possibly scatter sharp objects is NOT a good idea. I expressed my hesitations to the assembled group but I was waved off as being paranoid.

Now I know where you think this is going but something completely unexpected happened. I thought someone was going to get hit with cactus needles traveling at high velocity, but instead, with a cry of "check this out" Ben spun twice and swung the hammer. The hammer completely missed the cactus, swung up and past Ben's head. The bungie chord wrapped around Ben's neck, and the hammer hit him squarely in the face, knocking him out cold and breaking his nose and cheek bone.

The funny part of the story is that, when entered into the local hospital, the nurse on duty KNEW BEN BY NAME. Ben had been this hospital so many times that the nurses and doctors knew who he was as soon as he walked in the door. I have not seen Ben since, but I'd say there is a potential DA in his future.

Submitted on 03/25/2011

Submitted by: Ian
Reference: Personal Account, Summer 2004

Copyright © 2011 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
"Watch this!" - Famous last words. Thanks, Ian!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
This guy was known by name at the ER!?! Oh my goodness!!! Thanks, Ian!

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