Old but a true Golden one !!!! :- Australian bricklayer report

[cam]

> This is a bricklayer's accident report, which was printed in the
> newsletter of the Australian equivalent of the Workers' Compensation
> board. This is a true story. Had this guy died, he'd have received a
> Darwin Award for sure.......
>
> Dear Sir,
>
> I am writing in response to your request for additional information in
> Block 3 of the accident report form. I put "poor planning" as the
> cause of my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust
> the following details will be sufficient.
>
> I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working
> alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my
> work, I found that I had some bricks left over which, when weighed
> later were found to be slightly in excess of 500lbs. Rather than carry
> the bricks down by hand I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a
> pulley, which was attached to the side of the building on the sixth
> floor.
> Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the
> barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went down and untied
> the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks.
> You will note in Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh
> 135lbs. Due to my surprise at 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 rapid rate up the side of the building. In
> the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel, which was now
> proceeding downward at an equally impressive speed. This explained the
> fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collar bone, as listed
> in section 3 of the accident report form. 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 tightly to the rope, in spite of beginning to experience
> pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks
> hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.
> Now devoid of the weight of the bricks, that barrel weighed
> approximately 50 lbs. I refer you again to my weight. As you can
> imagine, I began a rapid descent, down the side of the building. In
> the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This
> accounts for the two fractured ankles, broken tooth and several
> lacerations of my legs and lower body. Here my luck began to change
> slightly. The encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to
> lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks and fortunately
> only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, as I
> lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move, I again lost
> my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope and I lay
> there watching the empty barrel begin its journey back down onto me.
> This explains the two broken legs.
>
> I hope this answers your inquiry.