Sunny Side Up
1996 Honorable Mention
Confirmed True by Darwin
A
thief who sneaked into a hospital was scarred for life when he
tried to get a suntan. After evading security staff at Odstock
Hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and helping himself to doctor's
paging devices, the thief spotted a vertical sun bed. He walked
into the unit and removed his clothes for a 45-minute tan. However,
the high-voltage UV machine at the hospital, which is renowned
for its treatment of burn victims, has a maximum dosage of 10
seconds. After lying on the bed for almost 300 times the recommended
maximum time, the man was covered in blisters. Hours later, when
the pain of the burns became unbearable, he went to Southampton
General Hospital, 20 miles away, in Hampshire. Staff became suspicious
because he was wearing a doctor's coat. After tending his wounds
they called the police. Southampton police said: "This man broke
into Odstock and decided he fancied a quick suntan." Doctors say
he is going to be scarred for life.
Confirmed True by Darwin
