Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive."

Who would do something so stupid as to risk their life for some change? A Darwin Award Nominee, of course!! Sadly, this fool can only classify for an honourable mention, but don't fret, with stupid behaviour like this, I'm sure he'll eventually succeed at removing himself from the gene pool...

A 35-year-old man in Paddington, Sydney dropped some change down a stormwater drain. Now most sensible people would just leave it there (as it had been raining) but not this potential Darwin in the making.

He proceded to remove the cover from the drain, and then LAY DOWN on the road and stuck his head and upper body down the drain to retreive his money, leaving his lower body lying across the road.

However, his plans to recover his money went horribly wrong when a Ford SUV turning off Oxford street (a very busy road) failed to see him and hit the lower half of his body, which was still lying in the road.

He was rushed to St Vincents hospital in a serious condition, suffering a broken pelvis and possible internal injuries. Had the bumper of the low-slung SUV not hit him, he would now probably be in the running for a Darwin Award - all for the sake of some change. As a final insult, it was not confirmed whether the guy got his money anyway!!

Original Text of News Article:
January 17, 2006 - 12:54PM

A man searching for change head first in a Sydney stormwater drain is lucky to be alive after being hit by a 4WD. The man, 35, suffered a broken pelvis and possible internal injuries as his legs protruded from the drain in Pelican Street at 11.40am yesterday.

He was taken to St Vincents hospital where he is in a serious by stable condition.

Police say he had removed a cover from the drain and was trying to retrieve change when he was hit by a Ford Territory turning into the street from Oxford Street. "He's lucky the wheels didn't drive over the top of him," said a police spokesman, adding that the victim has been hit by the front bumper.

Police have interviewed a number of witnesses, including the "shocked" 55-year-old driver of the car, but will not be laying any charges.

Source: smh.com.au

Submitted on 01/16/2006

Submitted by: Tyson
Reference: www.smh.com.au - 17/01/06

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
OK, I'll bite. The visual of this gent's legs sticking out of a storm drain are enough for me. And whether it's Sydney or New York City, anyone doing what this fellow did IS lucky to be alive. Instead of love-tapped by an SUV he could have been flattened by a fire truck, EMT vehicle, city bus, or 18 wheeler. Yes, the more I think about this, the more I wish to vote to keep as an HM...

Greg said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Ditto ... lying in the road to retrieve a few pennies is dumb enough for me!

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I like it! Thanks, Tyson. Good write up.

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
In my minds' eye, I'm seeing this guy, head down and butt high in the street drain... going after some change? This is just too ridiculous an image to lose... Darwinia, could we get one of your artists to illustrate this one?

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