Darwin's Nightmare.....

[marmar]

A Russian finalist at the World Sauna Championships in Finland died Saturday and the event was suspended, according to the organizers, the AP reported.

Both of the events finalists -- Russia's Vladimir Ladyzhensky and Finland's Timo Kaukonen -- were rushed to the hospital after collapsing during the competition, in which contestants are made to endure temperatures of 230 degrees Fahrenheit (110 degrees Celsius) for as long as they can. Ladyzhensky later died.

The event, which has been held since 1999, was taking place in Heinola, Finland, which is 86 miles north of Helsinki.

While police have launched an investigation, the organizer of the event, Ossi Arvela, said in a statement: "All the rules were followed and there was enough first aid personnel. All the competitors needed to sign in to the competition with a doctor's certificate."

The Finnish news agency STT reported that both men suffered burns on their body and that the competition was cut short after six minutes, according to AFP.

Kaukonen had won the competition 5 times. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/07/world-sauna-championships_n_674582.html

[hobbit709]

1. TSTL

[malaise]

2. It's too late to tell Ladyzhensky

to get a fugging life! :evilgrin:

[Cirque du So-What]

3. I had no idea there was such a competition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Sauna_Championships

Hardly surprising, then, to see that contestants must sign a form agreeing not to pursue legal action against the organizers. The reference to the Darwin Awards is apropos.

[hlthe2b]

4. I can not even fathom--allowing themselves to be cooked alive..

and he literally was. Those full thickness burns are nothing to joke about, either. I just can not fathom...:shrug:

[Speck Tater]

5. Poached Moron. nt