Train "Surfer" gets Zapped

[Anonymous]

'Train surfer' electrocuted
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- A youth was electrocuted at the Longdale station in Industria, Johannesburg, on Thursday morning (March 2), emergency services told the Independent.
Chief Superintendent Malcolm Midgley said he had climbed onto the roof of a train and was riding it like a surfboard when he was electrocuted.

"His body was found about an hour ago between the railway lines at the station," said Midgley.

"There may have been more people with him, but we are not sure. Boys often jump onto the roof and show off among themselves. Unfortunately this time someone was electrocuted."

(This item appeared March 2, 2006, in the Independent.)

March 2, 2006

[james saunders]

*** kids how stupid, i presume its an electrified line?

[BaltACD]

Shocking [:(] Simply Shocking [:(]

[Anonymous]

....."clear!!"

[Anonymous]

[(-D] We got one for the darwin awards.

[Anonymous]

And the level of intelligence on the planet increases again!

Old Timer

[CNW 6000]

I hope his nickname wasn't "Sparky"

[Hugh Jampton]

This isn't as rare as you might think, I read a report from Germany that said that about 35 people a year loose their lives this way a year on DB.
The demographic, as you might guess, is mainly males 18-25.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

There are also subway surfers in New York, their risk isn't electrocution but getting bonked by tight clearances.

[Anonymous]

They shore got a charge out of this journey when they hit the end of the line, didnt they boys?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BaltACD


Shocking [:(] Simply Shocking [:(]

As Mookie would say, "Groan." [:p]

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by BaltACD


Shocking [:(] Simply Shocking [:(]

As Mookie would say, "Groan." [:p]

What is life without some groaners[:D]

[upchuck]

[:O]ZZZZZTTT....POOOF![xx(]

[espeefoamer]

Waiter, I'll have that "extra crispy"[:D]!

[Anonymous]

I suppose the surfer got burned after being strung out on top of things.

Sorry, Just exhasuted my repitore of very bad HBO style "Tales from the Crypt" Humor. Man what a show that was.

Or worse, the guy found out that being a surfer might have been all flash and sizzle with no glory or real beef to such a dangerous activity.

[trainfan1221]

It's sad when something like this happens, but at the same time hard to feel too sympathetic. This is another person who won't be around to be stupid again.

[Philcal]

Proves once more that stupidity is indeed an international affliction. And we're worried about Bird Flu.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by farmer03

....."clear!!"

[(-D] Well said, well said.

[vsmith]

Chalk up another vote [tup] for a Darwin winner!

How much you wana bet his last words were..."Hey, check this out!"

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

There are also subway surfers in New York, their risk isn't electrocution but getting bonked by tight clearances.

Yup....about once every couple months some kid gets scraped off the top of a car by a low beam in a tunnel...often times just leaving a station. The NYC Subway Surfers don't stand up, but simply try to hang-on to the top of the car without getting thrown off.

Some people[xx(]

[Modelcar]

...Suppose we have no appropriate words to describe the "why" of such actions....

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...Suppose we have no appropriate words to describe the "why" of such actions....

(Emphasis added:)

QUOTE: Originally posted by Philcal

Proves once more that stupidity is indeed an international affliction. And we're worried about Bird Flu.

[CSXrules4eva]

OH my this is interesting, indeed. I don't think I've ever heard of someone doing this before.
Another, stupid costly mistake, made by someone who didn't know any better. I do wonder how old the kid was. Was he really a kid, or was he a teenager or a young adult? IF he was a teen he should of known better.

Well, since I still happen to be a kid, I'm 19; from my point of view, kids will always find a way to make life more interesting by trying something that might be stupid. Unfortunitly, I do have a t-shirt "Been There, Done That" However, I haven't done anything that stupid before. Thank God.

[zgardner18]

Wasn't there a CSI or Law and Order about some guy surfing the New York Subway system? I think I saw that one.

[Anonymous]

Train surfing is fairly common on the electrified lines out of Rio De Jenero (Spelling?). Several are killed every year by touching the overhead catenary. A true badge of honor of these Darwin candidates is to have survived a brush with the lightning and have a burn scar on your head where you made contact.

I think I will pass on this badge of honor.