Darwin Award of the Day

He said he was going to bed, but instead he would be found with critical injuries by a power box. A long time friend believes it must have been a “desperate” bid for copper, and now those who loved him would be searching for answers. Nadine Roberts reports.

There’s little at the scene of the tragedy to say that a life ended. Amid acres of empty red zone in the Christchurch suburb of Burwood, Lionel Horn allegedly tried to take copper wiring from a transformer kiosk at midnight.

On Tuesday, Christchurch Police Metro Area Commander Superintendent Lane Todd said the man was found critically injured and died at the scene.

“We are making a number of inquiries, however it appears the man may have been attempting to retrieve copper from the transformer,” he said.

Stuff