Man dies in freak accident involving backpack, beer

KOMOTV.COM ^ | 4/3/08 | AP

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - Authorities say a transient climbing over a chain link fence in Vancouver choked to death when he got tangled in the straps of his beer-filled backpack.

Police say 51-year-old James Francis Henry had been drinking beer Tuesday night while walking with his girlfriend, 38-year-old Kelli Jo Barkley. They were returning to their homeless encampment from their roadside panhandling site.

Barkley says he fell while trying to scale a 6-foot chain link fence, got his neck caught in the chest strap of his backpack and said, "Help me! Help me!"

By the time she got a nearby resident to call 911 and emergency crews arrived, Henry was unconscious and could not be revived.

Police said his backpack contained about a dozen 40-ounce bottles of beer.

[dynachrome]

Beer. The cause and the solution of our problems.

[skinkinthegrass]

thanks...wondering when he &/ you, would show-up. :)

[Kenny Bunk]

Do not get tangled in your backpack.

Never take hurdles with a backpack full of beer? Although it does have possibilities as an Olympic event.

[traumer]

They should have chosen a delivery...

[traumer]

WILL IT FLOAT... ??

[GOP_Raider]

(I think some of us were considered "accidents" involving beer or else we wouldn't be here.)

Beer Ping!

A low to medium ping list aimed at all of us who, well, love our beer…

FReepmail rzeznikj at stout or GOP_Raider to be added or struck from the list…

[JSteff]

“Weighs a bit less than two bowling balls.”

Depends. What type of containers?

[JSteff]

“Yeah but it makes for a extended whiz in the morning.”

And therein may lie what could have been his salvation.

If he would have whizzed from the fence he might have lightened himself enough to get off the fence.

[JSteff]

“The man probably couldn’t get at the fastener, but the woman should have been able to.”

Maybe not. She may have busy taking off with the cooler full of beer he dropped while getting hanged from the fence.

[StarCMC]

Ping.

[Cobra64]

[Cobra64]

we need looter guy!

Ok.

[norge]

Man, I miss those 40 ouncers...but this was a hoser on a mission.

[Grizzled Bear]

Beer related Ping!

[GVnana]

By the time emergency crews arrived... ... she had nearly drank all the beer in his backpack trying to lighten his load.

See what happens when you rely on 911?

[GVnana]

ROTFLMPO!

[Ignatz]

I don’t get why she couldn’t help him herself.

She wouldn't get off of her lazy a$$ to get herself a job, do you really think she gives a d@mn about another human being? She probably called 911 because she was afraid she be accused of killing him if she ran away (with the beer, of course).

911 Op: 911, what is your emergency?
Useless leech on society: This dude I was hanging out with...he..he got his backpack wrapped 'round his neck! I didn't do it!
911 Op: Calm down ma'am. What does he have wrapped around his neck?
Useless leech on society: I didn't do nuttin' to him, honest! He fell climbing over the fence and got his backpack wrapped 'round his neck! It's got 24..er, I mean...12 beers innit!

[TaMoDee]

I guess he was dying for a beer!

[CurlyDave]

First time I have ever heard of a situation where: "Hold muh beer and watch this." would have been a brilliant comment.

[Vicki]

I saw this earlier today. Terrible. Sad for his girlfriend too.