Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Nonesuch #44

'Star Wars' fans hurt using homemade lightsabers

LONDON (AP) — Two Star Wars fans were critically injured when they tried to replicate the lightsabers used in the movie by filling glass fluorescent light tubes with fuel, police and a news report said Tuesday.

The pair, Mark Webb, 20, and an unidentified 17-year-old girl, were planning to make a video recording of a duel like those in the just-released blockbuster film Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith, Britain's Press Association news agency said.

They were injured when one of the makeshift sabers exploded Sunday evening in the woods in Hemel Hempstead, north of London.

Hertfordshire Police said a third person present when the explosion happened had been questioned. The department said the two who were injured were in critical condition at a burns unit in Chelmsford, Essex.

"At this stage we are unable to confirm the exact circumstances, but glass tubes and traces of accelerant (flammable substance) were found at the scene," police said.

2 comments:

Julie Brooks Barbour said...

Why am I still always surprised by how stupid people can be? Sheesh. :)

Rob Burton said...

Top runners for the 'Darwin Awards' hey and they're my country men (and women) I am ashamed...

http://www.darwinawards.com/