More on Darwin rewards

[Guest guest]

And for this year's runner-up:

 

This one needs an intro, so you won't be lost at the beginning. This man was

in an accident (work accident, not car accident), so he filled out an

insurance claim. The insurance company contacted him and asked for more

information.

 

This was his response: "I am writing in response to your request for

additional information for block number 3 of the accident reporting form. I

put 'poor planning' as the cause of my accident.

 

You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust the

following detail will be sufficient.I am an amateur radio operator and on

the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80

foot tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the

course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools

and spare hardware.

 

Rather than carry the now un-needed tools and material down by hand, I

decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using a pulley, which

was fortunately attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing

the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded the

tools and material into the barrel.

 

Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to

ensure a slow descent of the 300 pounds of tools. You will note in block

number 11 of the accident reporting form that

I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground

so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope.

 

Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of

the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming

down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone.

 

Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the

fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.

 

"Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able

to hold onto the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time,

however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the

barrel.

 

Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20

pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might

imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity

of the 40 footlevel, I met the barrel coming up.

 

This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs

and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my

injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools and, fortunately, only three

vertebrae were cracked.

 

I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain,

unable to stand and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost

my presence of mind. I let go of the rope...