Charles Darwin at a green chalkboard.

1993 Darwin Awards

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Honoring Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool--by removing themselves from it in the most spectacular way possible.

Cactus Crunch
1982 Darwin Award Winner
Unconfirmed by Darwin

(February 1982, Arizona) Desert marksmen aim their weapons at Saguaro cacti so frequently that Arizona was forced to declare the "sport" a felony. Offenders risk a $100,000 fine and three years in prison. But that doesn't stop sharpshooters like 27-year-old David, who was trying to impress friends when he opened fire on a Saguaro in 1982.

He was killed when it fell on him.

He reportedly fired two slugs from a 16-gauge shotgun at a 27-foot cactus, and began to shout, "Timber!" He only had enough time to utter the first syllable before a 23-foot section of the prickly plant fell and crushed him beneath its spiky skin.

This story was confirmed by a caller to RAdio-Free Wease in Rochester, NY, who swore it happened "years ago" when he lived in Arizona. He placed a call to the Arizona Republic and the operator connected us to editor Tamara Thornton, who clearly rememberd the incident, but said it happened "like fifteen years ago."
Another Cactus Encounter

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DarwinAwards.com © 1994 - 2022
Submitted by: Coronal
Reference: Arizona Republic, High Country News

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