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From http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1461751.htm and http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2005/09/16/1126750111141.html
"Victorian authorities believe that a man built up at least 30,000 volts of static electricity in his jacket simply by walking around the western Victorian city of Warnambool yesterday. The man left a trail of scorch marks and molten plastic behind him..."
It was apparently a freak coincidence of insulating clothes and static-generating synthetic fabrics... he first noticed it after a firecracker-like shock when he walked into a local business for a job interview, and over the next few minutes the carpet began to melt around him. After leaving and getting in his car, the man scorched a piece of plastic on the floor of the vehicle... the fire department were called, and three buildings were evacuated.
"The CFA have the jacket, and report that it is still giving off voltage..."
If you are approached on a hot dry day by a man wearing a polyester suit & a corona of lightning, under no circumstances should you shake their hand :-)
"Victorian authorities believe that a man built up at least 30,000 volts of static electricity in his jacket simply by walking around the western Victorian city of Warnambool yesterday. The man left a trail of scorch marks and molten plastic behind him..."
It was apparently a freak coincidence of insulating clothes and static-generating synthetic fabrics... he first noticed it after a firecracker-like shock when he walked into a local business for a job interview, and over the next few minutes the carpet began to melt around him. After leaving and getting in his car, the man scorched a piece of plastic on the floor of the vehicle... the fire department were called, and three buildings were evacuated.
"The CFA have the jacket, and report that it is still giving off voltage..."
If you are approached on a hot dry day by a man wearing a polyester suit & a corona of lightning, under no circumstances should you shake their hand :-)
