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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Slow Learner

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A 34 year old southern man was sentenced to 18 months jail for trying to steal live copper power lines from the states central highlands. In sentencing the man in Hobarts supreme court the judge recounted that the man had first driven to the Liapootah power station in September last year where he broke into a compound and stole 100kg og copper wire worth $2000. Later that month he drove to the Wayatinah tip and came across a power pole posted with a sign warning "Danger - Live Wires Overhead, Do not Climb". Incedibly, the defendent formed the view that the power lines supported by the pole were not live, and climbed it after cutting through the barbed wire guard justice Evans said. However when the man reached for one of the overhead lines with wire cutters, he recieved a 22000 volt electric shock , the force of which threw him some distance from the pole. After being taken to hospital by ambulance with serious burns to his legs and arms, the man required multiple skin grafts and a three week hospital stay. He was also charged with various offences. But the day after he was duischarged from hospital, still swathed in bandages, he travelled to another power station, and, undeterred by his previous experience, again concluded the power lines were not live. He climbed the pole and cut through a large copper cable, which although live, did not shock him. However, the cutting of the cable instead triggered an emergency alarm, resulting in four of the five pipelines to the power station shutting down at a cost to Hydro Tasmania of $200000:00. The man was discovered at the scene by two Hydro employees but denied being the perpetrator until interviewed by police. He will be eligible for parole in 12 months.

Perhaps next time he may be successfull in cooking himself!!

P.S. It pains me greatly as a native Tasmanian to submit this true near miss, (as we constantly bear the brunt of various inbreeding jokes etc),but I feel this true story needs to be told to a wider audience.

Submitted on 06/28/2008

Submitted by: Phil Howell
Reference: Launceston Examiner (Tasmania) April 12 2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
Love it! Hate it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Yet another dumb copper crook for Darwin's collection. Thanks, Phil.


Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat
Sorry, but we have this one. Check out http://darwinawards.com/slush/200804/pending20080421-161338.html Sounds like this mook is well along to frying his remaining brain cells. Thanks, Phil!


Shadow said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
shes collecting em


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