You didn't think I could let this one go Muzza?



T O P S T O R Y

FRYING FEET: A world record attempt at fire-walking turned sour in Dunedin when 28 entrants required medical attention for burns. Chloe Ellis, left, and Toni MacPherson brave the hot coals.

Otago Daily Times



Fire-walking not such an enjoyable feat

12 July 2004



An attempt to create a world record for fire walking has led to 28 people being treated for burns - 11 of them at hospital.



None of those treated at Dunedin Hospital for superficial burns and blistering was expected to be detained overnight.



They were among 341 people who fulfilled criteria set by the Guinness Book of Records - stepping inside markers on the side of the 3.5 metre-long pit and being aged over 14 - and about 100 to 150 more who did not but also walked across the hot charcoal pit in the Octagon.



The event, run by the New Zealand International Science Festival as a fund-raiser for defibrillators for the Order of St John, raised about $1000. But St John spent more than that treating patients.



St John acting district manager Jan Scott said staff had to call for extra saline and special burns dressings - materials which cost more than $1000.



Asked if the burn rate was acceptable, she said people had a free will and could decide whether to walk across the coals.



St John fund-raiser Lindsay Ellery said the money rasied would complete fund-raising to buy two automatic external defibrillators for use by St John volunteers at public gatherings and sports events to help people in cardiac arrest, he said.



Festival director Emma Ramsay Brown said "we certainly didn't want to cause any pain for people".





Strict safety regulations were in place. People's feet were checked. Ambulance officers and doctors were at the scene, along with firefighters.



During festival fire walks in 1998 and 2002, only a few people were treated for blisters and none taken to hospital.



Asked if fire walking would take place again, she said: "We'd have to revisit it".



"I think it's enough for a while. If people have been hurt, we don't want to knowingly get into that again".



The cost to St John was "not good. I'm sure we can fix up something about that; talk to the people in the community and see what we can do".

Good read for the morning I'll go back to drinking my luke warm coffee now

Danger is something Kiwis thrive on mate - unlike yourself whose greatest danger is having your gingernut biscuit fall into your coffee when you dunk it .... As a nation we beleive in living life to the max , cos none of us are going to come out the other end of life alive anyway....

If you reincarnate as a cat you could be one of the four on the back of my work truck this morning....here kitty kitty kitty

It says I have to register to see the article. BUT if I do I can win a safari to Africa Now the question is if I win the trip can I shoot stuff

The stay in Africa is an overnighter on the footpath in Soweto whilst wearing a white supremisist t-shirt. Do you still want to apply ?

I can just see it now......

The guide turns to the members of the safari and says in a whisper..."Folks if you look to your left you'll see a small group of kudu an..BANG..BLOODY HELL BAKER PUT THAT AWAY"

Bakes looks at the guide with an inocent look and says "come on mate that thing would go 49-50 inches for sure"

You have it wrong. There is a soft "Puffft" and "thwack" echoes back. Everyone ignores you because they think you have excessive wind.

A child asks his metrosexual father, "What is wrong with the kudu, Daddy?"

Metro-Daddy answers, "It must be sick.".

Bakes smiles and wonders how he will get back there tonight in the lion and elephant filled darkness to recover his 60 inch kudu trophy.

Now that mental image certainly promoted a chuckle.

I emailed SMH and asked if hunting would be allowed should I win the trip Lets see what happens