posted on August 9, 2001 01:46:06 PM newCould this really be true?I know it made me laugh, but is this really a factual happening...being on the east coast I might have missed this. " Top Survivor Of The Darwin Awards! "
And now, the 1997 winner: Larry Waters of Los Angeles -- one
of the few Darwin winners to survive his award- winning
accomplishment. Larry's boyhood dream was to fly. When he
graduated from high school, he joined the Air Force in hopes
of becoming a pilot. Unfortunately, poor eyesight
disqualified him. When he was finally discharged, he had to
satisfy himself with watching jets fly over his backyard.
One day, Larry, had a bright idea. He decided to fly. He went
to the local Army-Navy surplus store and purchased 45 weather
balloons and several tanks of helium. The weather balloons,
when fully inflated, would measure more than four feet
across.
Back home, Larry securely strapped the balloons to his sturdy
lawn chair. He anchored the chair to the bumper of his jeep
and inflated the balloons with the helium. He climbed on for
a test while it was still only a few feet above the ground.
Satisfied it would work, Larry packed several sandwiches and
a six-pack of Miller Lite, loaded his pellet gun- - figuring
he could pop a few balloons when it was time to descend-- and
went back to the floating lawn chair.
He tied himself in along with his pellet gun and provisions.
Larry's plan was to lazily float up to a height of about 30
feet above his back yard after severing the anchor and in a
few hours come back down.
Things didn't quite work out that way. When he cut the cord
anchoring the lawn chair to his jeep, he didn't float lazily
up to 30 or so feet. Instead he streaked into the LA sky as
if shot from a cannon. He didn't level of at 30 feet, nor did
he level off at 100 feet. After climbing and climbing, he
leveled off at 11,000 feet.
At that height he couldn't risk shooting any of the balloons,
lest he unbalance the load and really find himself in
trouble. So he stayed there, drifting, cold and frightened,
for more than 14 hours.
Then he really got in trouble. He found himself drifting into
the primary approach corridor of Los Angeles International
Airport. A United pilot first spotted Larry. He radioed the
tower and described passing a guy in a lawn chair with a gun.
Radar confirmed the existence of an object floating 11,000
feet above the airport. LAX emergency procedures swung into
full alert and a helicopter was dispatched to investigate.
LAX is right on the ocean. Night was falling and the offshore
breeze began to flow. It carried Larry out to sea with the
helicopter in hot pursuit. Several miles out, the helicopter
caught up with Larry. Once the crew determined that Larry was
not dangerous, they attempted to close in for a rescue but
the draft from the blades would push Larry away whenever they
neared.
Finally, the helicopter ascended to a position several
hundred feet above Larry and lowered a rescue line. Larry
snagged the line and was hauled back to shore. The difficult
maneuver was flawlessly executed by the helicopter crew. As
soon as Larry was hauled to earth, he was arrested by waiting
members of the LAPD for violating LAX airspace. As he was led
away in handcuffs, a reporter dispatched to cover the daring
rescue asked why he had done it. Larry stopped, turned and
replied nonchalantly, "A man can't just sit around."
Let's hear it for Larry Waters, the 1997 Darwin Award Winner.
posted on August 9, 2001 02:38:22 PM new
I remember reading about this. It was in the nespapers at the time, so I would guess it really happened. Makes you wonder.
I would have popped one or two of the ballons as soon as I realized I was going so high, but then again, I wouldn't have pulled a stunt like this.
posted on August 9, 2001 03:16:05 PM new
Sadly, Mr Waters has passed on. I read about it recently, and was flabbergasted he survived that stunt. But, he had gumption to give 'er a try.
posted on August 10, 2001 09:26:38 PM new
Oh that is SO funny! You have to admire his spirit. I'm sorry to hear that he passed away-- I hope he gets to fly now!
" Top Survivor Of The Darwin Awards! "