Australian bricklayer report

Zoot

I never know how much to believe this type of news but always enjoy the story anyway.

See what you think........



Australian bricklayer report

Possibly the funniest story in a long while. 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
onto 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 weigh135lbs. 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 and 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.

BigCon

Funny, but not true! There's a song called "Sick Note" sung by the Dubliners (I think it's on their 25 anniversary album - my mother had it when I was young!!!). It describes almost exactly this story, only in song. Very funny!:D

Vikktakkht

Definitely not true as I've seen a guy do a stand up routine of this, based on a story that originated in about 1935....

Still makes me smile, as you sit and think about what's happening to the poor sod....