I just ran across a slush pile reject story about workers accidentally pressurizing a water line with air, titled "Turd Bomb". Doubt was expressed that something like this could happen.

In '73, just after I started working at Boone County Hospital in Columbia MO, a water main broke down the hill from the hospital. All water drained from the 6-storey hospital tower. Shortly after the break was repaired, an elderly patient was sitting on the toilet in a 6th-floor bathroom and flushed while still seated. He was blown off the toilet by the blast of pressurized air. As a young, quick, and long-armed young man, I was told to flush every toilet on the floor, to release air trapped in the lines. It was pretty spectacular.

Submitted on 03/04/2005

Submitted by: Denton Warn
Reference:

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Daniel said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Thanks for the back up.

Jack said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Thanks, but I'd have to say that, since the elderly patient wasn't responsible, he was a bystander.

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Sideways corroboration of another story in the slush pile...

Kelly said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
Agree with charles.

Tracy said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Corroboration - thanks very much!

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