FW: Evolution of the species?

["Duff, Ian" <iduff@charter.com>]

Not quite as spectacular as the (un)guided missile, but equally
un-Darwinian.

Ian Duff, 1990 Coupe Quattro 20v, Red/Black

Home: New Bedford, MA, USA
Work: Charter Systems, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA

>----------
>From: 	Joe
>Baxter/NYC/Lotus[SMTP:Joe_Baxter/NYC/Lotus.LOTUS@crd.lotus.com]
>Sent: 	Thursday, 25 July, 1996 9:22 AM
>To: 	Duff, Ian
>Subject: 	Re: Evolution of the species?
>
>Here is the runner up to the Darwin award for 95.  I don't know of one
>for 96 
>yet.  He's the runner up because he lived.
>
>_____________________________________________
>
>     
>And for this year's runner-up:
>     
>This one needs an intro, so you won't be lost at the beginning. This 
>man was in an accident (work accident, not car accident), so he filled 
>out an insurance claim.  The insurance company contacted him and asked 
>for more information.  This was his response:
>     
>"I am writing in response to your request for additional information 
>for block number 3 of the accident reporting form.  I put 'poor 
>planning' as the cause of my accident.  You said in your letter that I 
>should explain more fully and I trust the following detail will be 
>sufficient.  I am an amateur radio operator and on the day of the 
>accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80 foot 
>tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the 
>course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of 
>tools and spare hardware.  Rather than carry the now un-needed tools 
>and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small
>
>barrel by using a pulley, which was fortunately attached to the gin 
>pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at ground level, I went
>
>to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and material into the 
>barrel.  Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it
>
>tightly to ensure a slow descent of the 300 pounds of tools.
>     
>"You will note in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that 
>I weigh only 155 pounds.  Due to my surprise of being jerked off the 
>ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of 
>the rope.  Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of 
>speed up the side of the tower.  In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, 
>I met the barrel coming down.  This explains my fractured skull and 
>broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, 
>not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep 
>into the pulley. "Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my 
>presence of mind and was able to hold onto the rope in spite of my 
>pain.  At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools 
>hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.  Devoid of the 
>weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 pounds.  
>I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might 
>imagine,  I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the 
>vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming up.  This 
>accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs 
>and lower body.  The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to 
>lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools and, 
>fortunately,  only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, 
>however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand 
>and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my 
>presence of mind.  I let go of the rope..."
>
>