resize text printbuy reprints

share email

Email shareyour name your email recipients email + add a comment add a comment

. A Linwood Township man remained in critical condition Tuesday, three days after members of a bomb squad presided over the surgical removal of an illegal aerial firework from his chest.

The Anoka County Sheriff's Office was called just after 9 p.m. Saturday to a house on the 6800 block of 225th Lane NE., said sheriff's spokesman Cmdr. Paul Sommer.

Deputies found the 31-year-old man with massive injuries to his chest. Two adult witnesses reported that he had been using a hand-held metal mortar tube to launch fireworks, Sommer said. When he attempted to launch two rockets at once, the witnesses said, the first one went off as planned, but the bottom of the tube blew out.

The man, whose identity has not been released, was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Once he was in the emergency room, doctors realized that the second, unexploded, device was lodged in his chest. The St. Paul Police Department's bomb squad was brought in to oversee its surgical removal, and then took the explosive from the hospital.

Sommer said his office did not have more information about the nature of the device, or whether people at the hospital were in danger at any time. Aerial fireworks, he said, basically are two-stage rockets. A preliminary explosion launches it; the second creates an aerial display. Any explosive that leaves the ground is illegal in Minnesota, he said.

"The explosion was strong enough to blow the bottom off a metal tube and impact the second in his chest," Sommer said.

MARIA ELENA BACA

more from north metro Brooklyn Park man gets 40 years for killing wife with baseball bat

Blaine man gets 10 years in synthetic drug death

Cycling league at a glance

get related content delivered to your inbox You are now subscribed. manage my email subscriptions resize text printbuy reprints

share email

Email shareyour name your email recipients email + add a comment add a comment

. More from Star Tribune Wis. recall elections could produce unusual outcome that could lead to political shenanigans (Politics) Man who survived crash says he 'belly flopped' plane against Idaho mountain after wings iced (Nation) My dearest Amazon, our divorce is final (StarTribune.com) Jablonski moves leg, stirs hope (Local) North news briefs: Anoka County residents far exceed 2011 recycling goal | StarTribune.com (North Metro) Gearing up for a new school sport | StarTribune.com (North Metro) From Around the Web sponsored links Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think (SnagFilms) Big Brother in Your Pocket: How Police Use Your Cell Phone to Track You (The Atlantic) Unplug your charger (Recyclebank) Jenna Jameson Arrested in California for Suspected DUI (Us Weekly) Another Star Mug Shot! Jenna Jameson Arrested for Suspected DUI (iVillage) TLC's 'Next Great Baker' Hides Death of Contestant (The Daily Meal) [?]

Submitted on 05/30/2012

Submitted by: Patrick Meade
Reference: Minneapolis Star Tribune, 5-30-12

Copyright © 2012 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
While firework-related stories are rather commonplace I don't think we've had one quite egregious as this one in quite some time. What sheer idiocy to pack two fireworks into a *handheld* mortar tube! Thanks, Patrick.

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
..oh my bloody goodness.

The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom Keep yourself out of the gene pool! A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item! Friends don't let friends reproduce! $13 for Pack of 4