Here's a doozey!
The following is an accident report. Here is the background so you don't get lost ;-)
This man was in an accident at work, so he filled out an insurance claim. The insurance company contacted him and asked for more information. This is what he told them.
"I am an amateur radio operator and on the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new eighty 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 unneeded tools and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using the pulley 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 materials into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of tools.
"You will not in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground 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 barrell coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone.
"Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers on my right hand were 2 knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regathered 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 2 broken 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 3 verterbrae 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 eighty foot above me, I again lost my presence of mind.
"I let go of the rope..."
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: