NYC - Man dies from electrocution after urinating on subway's third rail

A Brooklyn man was electrocuted to death after urinating on the third rail early Monday morning.

Matthew Zeno, 30, had earlier been to a few bars with a friend before making the fateful decision that ended his life just after 3am Monday morning.
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What is clear is that Zeno relieving himself on the subway’s third rail killed him by electrocution, authorities said. His friend was also electrocuted trying to save him and is listed in stable condition at a local hospital.
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wfgodot said:

Man dies from electrocution while urinating on subway's third rail. (Daily Mail)
more, with pictures, at the link

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Nova said:

The guys on MYTHBUSTERS did a program on the urban legend of death by urination on "the third rail" and found it not to be true. What we see as a solid stream is actually a series of drops falling fast enough that they APPEAR to be solid. There's no way for the electricity to climb up, jumping from drop to drop.

Even if urine conducts electricity (which it may for all I know), you can not electrocute yourself by peeing, according to MYTHBUSTERS.

Of course, I can't verify their experiments, but I think it's at least possible the victim accidentally touched the live rail with his foot.

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oh_gal said:

So...pee away?

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Gardenlady said:

I've also heard them around the Boston area.

And honestly, someone is peeing somewhere in some subway stations, because man, some of them absolutely reek. NYCs subways seem cleaner and far less sketchy than they used to be, but some of the Boston ones are still nasty and smell, especially in summer.

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