Call it an idea that went downhill fast. A 62-year-old township man was recovering Monday from burns suffered when deputies said he apparently tried to turn himself into a human rocket during a weekend sledding party.

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Oakland County Sheriff's deputies were called to the 6700 block of Townview Drive about 7:30 p.m. Saturday on a reported injury from a possible fireworks incident. Investigators say the injured man has an annual sledding party at his home and is known for doing "crazy" things at the get-togethers. "It sounds like he was trying to outdo himself and obviously this was not a safe choice," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "I think it shows we should leave 'Rocket Man' to the movies. ... It's fortunate someone wasn't more seriously hurt." After consuming an "unknown quality of alcohol," the man built a device out of a motorcycle muffler and pipe and stuffed it with gunpowder, match heads and gasoline. He donned a plastic garbage bag like a cape and a motorcycle helmet, and strapped the muffler/pipe device to his back. He asked someone to light a fuse to the apparatus as he began to sled down a hill. The device exploded at some point during his brief sled ride, witnesses said.

Source: Exploding rocket pack injures sledder