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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

White Spirit IS Flammable

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Darwin says, "Hmm. This is surely stupid, Jamie, and I appreciate your bringing this to my attention. However, I can't seem to see it in the jocular light needed to write it into a Darwin Award. So, it's a worthy candidate for the readers of the Slush Pile.""
A drunken man died after setting fire to himself in a fruitless bid to prove white spirit was not flammable, an inquest heard.

Michael Toye doused himself with the fluid during an argument with friend Paul Deacon before putting a cigarette lighter to his trousers.

Mr Deacon said he exttinguished the ensuing flames but was asked not to call for help by Mr Toye, who said: 'I'm all right, I just want a fag and a beer.' They were drinking at Mr Toye's flat on April 12 last year at the time of the dispute

The 43-year-old applied the white spirit – a derivative of paraffin – while sitting in an armchair and his chest, arms and thighs were soon engulfed by flames.

Mr Deacon threw basins of water over him and wrapped him in a blanket after he refused medical help, the inquest heard. An ambulance took him to a burns unit at Salisbury District Hospital the next morning, but he died six days later from pneummonia caused by his injuries.

A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded by mid-Hampshire coroner Grahame Short.

Toye, from Hedge End, near Southampton, had not understood the consequences of his actions, said Mr Short. 'It was an act of possible bravado,' he added.

Which I am sure you all agree is a perfect Darwin Award Nominee !

Submitted on 01/11/2008

Submitted by: Jamie Rollinson
Reference: Metro Newspaper (London) - 11/01/08

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
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>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Thanks for sending this in, Jamie. We've already received this story a few times but I think this provides a bit more detail than what we've gotten so far.


James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I'll bite! Thanks, Jamie!


$5 Darwin Fish.
6" x 2.25" Silver Emblem like those commonly seen on cars
only way sexier. A cute fish, floating belly-up, illustrating
the mechanism of natural selection. Minimum order is 2.
  

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