DonLever Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Is It Really Possible to Die By Peeing on the Third Rail? An Investigation Reuters Rebecca Greenfield 230 ViewsJul 8, 2013 Last night a man reportedly was killed while peeing on the third rail of the G train in Brooklyn, leading to a renewed debate over the myth that one can actually kill oneself by taking a leak on the super electrified subway track. The report from the New York Post suggests that the man indeed died because his pee came in contact with the deadly rail. "A drunken man was electrocuted and killed relieving himself on the third rail in Brooklyn this morning, sources said," reads the report. But, both the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and law enforcement officials have denied a "whiz-3rd rail connection" to the Wall Street Journal's transportation reporter Tedd Man. So, it sounds more like the man fell while peeing onto the third rail and then got electrocuted and died. But, that doesn't mean it's not possible to die in such a manner. We investigate. The idea behind the myth makes scientific sense: an electrical current could travel up the stream of urine through one's penis, thus causing a jolt. Or, as a couple of New York City kids put it to a homeless man on the verge of peeing to his death: "Your dick will get blasted, bro." A Yahoo answers commenter also insists the risk is serious, real, and terrifying: "Electricity can arc across gaps in your pee and zap you right in the nuts. Penile electrocution is very painful. And if the electrical current is sustained, your testicles will explode." There have been plenty of reports of death while peeing, but few have confirmed that the pee-to-rail contact was the actual cause of death, rather than electrocution for touching a 600-plus-volt line. A 1967 news story suggests it happened, but the coroners don't sound certain of the cause of death. "In all probability, he was dead from electrocution before the train ever hit his body," reads the autopsy. More likely, the rail caused a jolt through his fingers and penis, causing him to fall on the rail. In fact, most of the tales of death by pee carefully word the incident so that either the urine stream or contact with the actual rail could have killed the man. A 1977 court case reads: "At this point, he apparently proceeded into the CTA's [Chicago Transit Authority] right-of-way in order to urinate. In the process of doing so, he came into contact with the third rail, and suffered fatal injuries." That final clause suggests that more than his pee touched the rail. The Daily Mail reported a Polish man died in Britain while whizzing. Authorities, however, found him slumped over the rail, questioning the actual cause of death. An ex-Marine died in Chicago after "climbing on electrified train tracks to urinate," reported the Daily Mail in 2012. But, that definitively said he fell on the rail. Once, however, a medical examiner cited the phenomenon as a cause of death in a 1991 Chicago incident, suggesting it can happen. While it is possible, found it would be incredibly unlikely in practice. When people pee, it often dribbles, as pictured in the GIF from the show at right. To conduct electricity, one would have to reach a stream levels. Certainly, drunken people have very full bladders. But, it would take zero wavering and a hefty go at it. That same MythBusters program says the act has not once led to someone's death in the New York City subway, but that was back in 2009. In any case, for safety's sake, we'd suggest not peeing on the third rail ever because: Why risk it? Also, peeing in public makes the subway smell worse than it already does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crom! Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Poor guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watermelon Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Thats shocking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apples Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 That must have been an electrifying piss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bookie Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 When I visit NYC I prefer to die in the subway getting eaten by the pet alligators that have been flushed down the toilet and since come into contact with improperly disposed of toxic waste and grown to mutant sized proportions and OH GOD ITS GOT MY LEG-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyledude Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 As if New York subway stations didn't smell enough like urine and dead bodies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shredder Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Did he die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudson bay rules Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Wizz bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Didn't this happen to poor Sami Salo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 As if New York subway stations didn't smell enough like urine and dead bodies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Sparkle Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 inb4 death puns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 gotta be smarter than the things you pee on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Did he die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Mac Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Just goes to show you if you pee on the track urine for a deadly surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csnCmsfimZA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggernut Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Seriously, though, I really hope they don't spend a lot of money on expensive safeguards on the account of one moron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemy Time Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 inb4 death puns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masutheakita Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 At least he died doing what he loved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pouet Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't believe it as the current would not go through the heart or any other organs for that matter (which is what is really dangerous when you get electrocuted). The current would head straight towards the guy's feet right into the ground. Myth buster should do a show on this one :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vavoom Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't believe it as the current would not go through the heart or any other organs for that matter (which is what is really dangerous when you get electrocuted). The current would head straight towards the guy's feet right into the ground. Myth buster should do a show on this one :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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