The Sunday Times, West Australia, 16 dec 03 A BRITISH tourist who died of dehydration left behind 80 litres of water when he walked away from his bogged vehicle and into the Great Sandy Desert.

Thomas Henry Sykes, 35, of London, died on Friday morning at a medical clinic in the remote Aboriginal community of Punmu, in Western Australia.

r Sykes had been trying to drive hundreds of kilometres east towards Alice Springs when his hired four-wheel drive became bogged.

His vehicle was found on Thursday, but when Mr Sykes was located near Punmu on Friday morning, after walking 60km in up to 40C heat, he was unconscious.

He died a short time later in Punmu medical clinic.

r Sykes' death, and the rescue of a second British tourist at a remote beach north of Broome on the same day, have prompted calls for greater education about the dangers of outback travel.

Sergeant David Hornsby of Marble Bar police said that if Mr Sykes had observed the golden rule of remote motoring and stayed with his car, he would have survived.

He said there were 80 litres of water in a tank fitted to the Toyota Hilux that was also equipped with a tent and tinned food stores.

There were enough supplies in the hired vehicle for Mr Sykes to have survived for more than a week, Sgt Hornsby said.

----------------------------------------- Note from the submitter: Marble Bar is the hottest place in Australia which isn't a cold country anyway. Driving on a remote and rarely used track in a vehicle you are unfamiliar with (as with any hired car)is foolish by itself, even more when you do this in the hottest time of the year. Now in every book, any map or track record the first rule states "Stay with your car". Failing to observe all those rules of common sense makes this nominee a perfect Darwin Award contender.

Submitted on 12/16/2003

Submitted by: Alain Hoffmann
Reference: http://www.sundaytimes.news.co

Copyright © 2003 DarwinAwards.com

Daniel said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Better write-up this time, staying with your car is common sense.

Bill said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Another version of this is already wending its way, but I like this version better: it has more information and hilights the stupidity more.

Teela said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
better write up

Bert said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
English version of this story- Better than first one I rated.