During my childhood my father was a headmaster and we travelled throughout rural Western Australia for his postings where my siblings and I experienced a lot of activities city kids would not have been privy to.

However after an earlier experience of starting a bushfire in a small country town you thought I would learnt my lesson. Im my infinite wisdom I coerced my younger brother into helping (assisting!)me construct a mini bonfire of sorts in the backyard. My father built a homemade BBQ consisting of bricks with no mortar and a piece of steelplate for the hotplate. My younger brother enthusiastically gathered twigs and leaves for the hard fuel items while I organised the accelerant items.

We started pouring into the BBQ (from the top) petrol, kerosene and whatever other fuel we could find and lit a match. Nothing happened so we poured more and more fuel in not realising that it was pooling about halfway down. Again we lit a match, bent down to look then it happened; a blast then a flash of light followed by the sensation of smelling bacon which was our hair, eyebrows and facial skin being singed away. We both ended up about 4 feet from the BBQ and both had a ringing in the ears for a few days.

Luckily no permanent damage was done and I can confirm I have made it my early 40's with all digits and limbs attached.

Submitted on 09/23/2009

Submitted by: Anthony Lockwood
Reference:

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
While we've gotten lots of stories of kids doing dumb things with gasoline & matches, I think this one goes well above and beyond since you mention using gasoline, kerosene, and more! Thanks for sharing, Anthony!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
LOL!! Gas, kerosene, and "whatever"! Oh, man. Thanks for the laugh, Anthony!

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