The 2009 Darwin Awards

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Proud to say that the first contender is a Canadian...

February 8, 2009
Man electrocuted while stealing copper

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINDSOR, Ont. - A man who police believe was stealing copper wire is dead after he was electrocuted in Windsor.

Hydro One is working with city police to piece together the death after the company received an alarm Saturday night.

Windsor police were called to the scene about midnight.

Hydro One spokeswoman Laura Cook says it appears the unidentified man was attempting to remove the metal from a city power station when the electricity shot through his body, killing him.

Power lines contain copper wire used to conduct electricity, and contact with an energized power line can end in serious injury or death.

Theft of recyclable scrap metals like copper and aluminum have become somewhat common as the price for the material has soared.