>>THE DARWIN AWARDS are given every year to bestow upon (the remains of)
>>that individual, who through single-minded self-sacrifice, has done the
>>most to remove undesirable elements from the human gene pool.  Here's 
>>another nominee:

> >: >>"Well, I can't say as I'm very surprised," said Station Manager
> >: >>Ed Brace of the unfortunate incident that claimed the life of
> >: >>(former) reporter Bob Sanders, "Although it is, of course, a
> >: >>terrible tragedy."

> >: >>Cameraman Antonio Davi agreed.  Initially assigned to cover a
> >: >>tropical storm with Sanders, they were both pulled off the story
> >: >>when it was upgraded to a hurricane.  "Bob told me he was going
> >: >>anyway, and tried to get me to join him, claiming it would 'boost
> >: >>my career.'  I told him he was nuts. I feel bad, considering what
> >: >>happened, but I'm sure glad it wasn't me."

> >: >>Lacking a cameraman, and despite strict orders to the contrary,
> >: >>Bob nevertheless managed to steal a camera and tripod in the
> >: >>confusion of the evacuation, throw both in the back of his truck,
> >: >>and head towards the storm.

> >: >>Videotape later recovered by local police shows Sanders reporting
> >: >>on the hurricane from a variety of locales and angles, each
> >: >>attempt cut short as the camera was blown over by the
> >: >>100-mile-per-hour-plus wind gusts.  Finally, Sanders managed to
> >: >>wedge the camera and tripod in with some branches and other
> >: >>debris blown against a small stand of trees.  This shot, too, was
> >: >>cut short by a different event:  the eye of the hurricane passed
> >: >>over Sanders, and the storm stopped.

> >: >>Using his respite, Sanders framed a dramatic shot:  Wind at his
> >: >>back, flooded condominiums behind him, he would record his story
> >: >>as soon as the winds began again.

> >: >>The 'eyewall', or ring of air around the eye of a hurricane, is
> >: >>the area of highest surface winds.  And, of course, if it's
> >: >>blowing one way as it passes over you the first time, it will
> >: >>blow the opposite direction when it hits again.

> >: >>The mass of branches and debris that contained Sanders' camera,
> >: >>when hit by the other side of the eyewall, had nothing holding it
> >: >>back.  As Sanders turned back around from gesturing at the rising
> >: >>waves behind him, he could only watch with astonishment as
> >: >>camera, tripod, branches and debris rushed at him, propelled by
> >: >>110 mile-per-hour winds.

> >: >>Sanders and his (surprisingly undamaged) camera were found by
> >: >>volunteers two days later.  Investigators report he was killed by
> >: >>a blow to the head by a large blunt object.  Analysis of the head
> >: >>wound as well as a study of the chaotic footage of the event
> >: >>indicate he may have been killed by his own camera.

> >: >>"He certainly did cover an amazing story," said Brace, "but I
> >: >>don't think his own death was what he had in mind."