Richard Harter’s World Darwin Awards, Main Page Humor pages Evolution and origins email


The 2003 Darwin Award Runner Up


TACOMA, WA:
Kerry Bingham had been drinking with several friends when one of them said they knew a person who had bungee-jumped from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the middle of traffic. The conversation grew more heated and at least 10 men trooped along the walkway of the bridge at 4:30 am. Upon arrival at the midpoint of the bridge they discovered that no one had brought a bungee rope. Bingham, who had continued drinking, volunteered and pointed out that a coil of lineman’s cable lay nearby. One end of the cable was secured around Bingham’s leg and the other end was tied to the bridge. His fall lasted 40 feet before the cable tightened and tore his foot off at the ankle. He miraculously survived his fall into the icy river water and was rescued by two nearby fishermen. “All I can say, ” said Bingham, “is that God was watching out for me on that night.” “There’s just no other explanation for it.” Bingham’s foot was never located.


This page was last updated March 1, 2004.