Suicide by Immolation outside Wal-Mart

[3113]

WTF? And no, apparently it wasn't because he'd been fired or because the economy was bad.

A 58-year-old Wal-Mart employee who said he "couldn't take it anymore" lit himself on fire outside the Bloomingdale store where he worked late Thursday night and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said this morning. In an interview, his son said his father went to work last night with nothing seeming out of the ordinary. "This had nothing to do with the economy. I want to make that clear," he said, adding that the family may never know the reason for the public suicide.

The Carol Stream man, who worked the overnight shift, was in a parking lot of an adjacent sporting goods store in the west suburban strip mall when he set himself on fire with lighter fluid around 10 p.m., said Randy Sater, a watch commander with the Bloomingdale Police Department. At least 10 people, including some teenagers, witnessed the suicide and several attempted to help the man by throwing their coats on top of him in an effort to put out the flames, he said.

"He said he didn't want any help and threw the coats off," Sater said.

When one of the first officers tried to speak to the man, who by that time was severely burned, he responded, "I just couldn't take it anymore," Sater said, citing the officer's report. ...A store manager, who identified himself only as Erwin, had no explanation for the suicide. he said the man had not been laid off.

Full story here.

I'm both horrified and stupefied. I understand completely why someone would kill themselves, even do so publically. But to set yourself on fire? I can't think of a more agonizing way to die. And my gawd--to throw off the coats of people trying to put you out....

 

[rgraham666]

I know how he feels. Or did, once upon a time.

 

[fl_mike]

Can't imagine, slow and very painful...

 

[rgraham666]

Hanging isn't much better. Which is how I decided to go.

Beat freezing to death on a Toronto street in February.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

Poor, poor man. I feel sad for his family. But, like Rob, I understand his pain. There is, however, no easy way to perform suicide.

Resume

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

-- Dorothy Parker

 

[sadangel]

I know how he feels. Or did, once upon a time.

Poor, poor man. I feel sad for his family. But, like Rob, I understand his pain. There is, however, no easy way to perform suicide.

Resume

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

-- Dorothy Parker

Like both of you I too understand the pain that leads to the thoughts of suicide. Been there more than once, tried it more than once. An no, there is no easy way to perform suicide.

Thoughts and prayers for the man's family. I can only imagine what they are going through now.

 

[bb_peaks]

wow. I couldn't imagine dying that way. Such a horrible way to go.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I've given some thought to what I'd do if diagnosed with something terminal and agonizing. I'd build a kite out of aluminized mylar and aluminum spars, take it to New Mexico in July and fly it in a storm from a quarter mile of copper wire. I don't think that would be either painful or long. Fire is not an option!

 

[3113]

Poor, poor man. I feel sad for his family. But, like Rob, I understand his pain. There is, however, no easy way to perform suicide.

I get that, but of all the choices you've got...A gun to the head may not be easy, but it is, well, faster than this. And while suicide is always going to be terrible on the family left behind, I can't imagine being more brutal on your family than publicly doing such a thing...not that a person committing suicide usually considers that.

 

[Xelebes]

Hanging isn't much better. Which is how I decided to go.

Beat freezing to death on a Toronto street in February.

Same here, same here.

Except it would have been the streets of Edmonton for me.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

That is a terribly written article, making absolutely no mention of what state it happened in. If it weren't for the URL saying "Chicago" I would have had no idea where that happened, as there is a Bloomindale and a Walmart both within five minutes of my office, and I'm really not sure which town that Walmart is in...

Very confusing.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I knew the minute the article mentioned Carol Stream and Bloomingdale in the same sentence. Far northwest suburbs of Chicago. Probably shopped at the WalMart they're talking about.

So sad that a mind goes so far and sees no way out.

 

[oggbashan]

If anyone contemplates suicide they need to consider the consequences if they don't succeed.

Death by burning isn't fast and if you survive even a few hours the agony would be excruciating.

Jumping off a height that isn't enough to ensure instant death can leave terrible injuries that might be with you for years.

Taking an overdose of paracetemol can lead to slow liver failure.

Shooting oneself is difficult to do with certainty of success.

Even jumping under a train doesn't guarantee death.

But how often does someone intending suicide think rationally?

Og

 

[voluptuary_manque]

If anyone contemplates suicide they need to consider the consequences if they don't succeed.

Death by burning isn't fast and if you survive even a few hours the agony would be excruciating.

Jumping off a height that isn't enough to ensure instant death can leave terrible injuries that might be with you for years.

Taking an overdose of paracetemol can lead to slow liver failure.

Shooting oneself is difficult to do with certainty of success.

Even jumping under a train doesn't guarantee death.

But how often does someone intending suicide think rationally?

Og

Yes. The traditional view of shooting onself in the temple can lead to nothing worse than blindness if the muzzle is held too far forward. You just short out your optic nerves! I know, that sounds impossible but there are recorded cases of just that. Og is right. A quick, painless death is a lot harder to achieve than is usually imagined. Seek professional help. Stay alive!