[Ed: Forwarded from misc.misc by Jamie Walsh.]

(From the Winchendon Observer, 19 December 1988)

12 Year Old Guinness Record Holder Dead

(AP) December 18, 1988 – Streetly, England – Mario Morby, a 12 year old
record holder in the Guinness Book of World Records, was killed yesterday
when he asphyxiated under the weight of hundreds of thousands of postcards
that accidentally toppled on him. Morby, a cancer patient currently
in remission, collected the postcards from supporters all over the world
who took sympathy on his condition. The bulk of Morbys collection,
estimated at over 2 million with 30,000 arriving daily, was turned over
to an auction house for disposal. Morby had retained about 500,000 of
the nicer ones.

Florida Childs Wish Come True, Inc. publicized Marios
wish for postcards. Had we realized the trouble that we caused,
we would have never gotten involved, said Frances Keefe, the founder of
the Spring Hill, Florida organization that specializes in satisfying the
last wishes of dying children. They used the pseudonym David when
requesting postcards on Morbys behalf. It makes us heartsick, Keefe
continued, to realize that we have contributed to this gentle childs
death. He was in remission, and his spirits were up. Those postcards
were his life.

Morbys body was discovered by the family dog, who notified
the district constable. Foul play is not suspected.

Ross McWhirter, author of the Guinness Book of World Records, said in
a prepared statement that it is ironic that Morbys record has been
overshadowed by that of another boy named David who is dying of
leukemia. In tribute to Morby, however, we have decided to enter him
in a new category in the mid-year 1989 update edition:
Most Senseless Death.

Contributions in Morbys memory may be made to Florida Childs Wish
Come True, Inc., P.O. Box 5997, Spring Hill, FL, USA.