Strange Deaths Caused by Everyday Objects
Sooner or later, the Grim Reaper comes for us all, but sometimes his mode of operation almost defies explanation. We all know about the major statistics - thousands of people die from things like cancer, car accidents, or other illnesses every day - but who would think hair extensions would be deadly or that a scarecrow would be lethal? Although getting an atomic wedgie in front of the watching world might be akin to dying a social death, who would imagine that one could be dispatched from this earth in such a way - killed by your own underwear?
It is said that life is stranger than fiction, but when reading about these strange deaths caused by random, everyday objects, one realizes that this saying also applies to death. Each item on this list is normally a completely innocuous, harmless object. Yet, in the right circumstance, they've become instruments of absolute doom. Prepare to be fascinated by these unusual deaths caused by mundane items.
- 12,305 VOTES
Molten Chocolate
In 2016, a 24-year-old woman in Russia died after falling into a vat of molten chocolate. According to news reports, the woman worked at the Sergiev Posad confectionery factory in Fedortsovo. One person said she dropped her phone and was trying to retrieve it when she fell in, while another witness said she was pouring flour into the mixture when the bag got caught.
Whatever the reason, Svetlana Roslina fell into the vat and was minced to death by the mixing blades. The only thing left of her was her dismembered legs.
- 22,119 VOTES
Soup
Ilda Vitor Maciel of Rio de Janiero, an 88-year-old Brazilian woman, entered the hospital in 2012, having a stroke. She was killed, dying of a pulmonary embolism, when hospital workers injected her with soup, rather than putting it in her feeding tube.
Source: Huffington Post
- 33,033 VOTES
Deodorant
16-year-old Jonathan Capewell of Oldham, England, died in 1998 after suffering a heart attack brought upon by his over zealousness for personal hygiene. Capewell became obsessed with smelling fresh and covered his entire body in deodorant at least twice a day. At the time of his death, the teen had 10 times the lethal dosage of propane and butane in his blood. It is believed the gases built up in his body following months of repeatedly spraying himself in the bedroom of his home.
The coroner reported " He was not indulging in any form of substance abuse. He was simply overcome by excessive use of anti-perspirants."
Strangely enough, 10 years later, the same thing happened to 12-year-old Daniel Huxley of Nottingham.
Source: The Independent, The Daily Mail - 42,206 VOTES
Bale of Hay
An accidental meeting with a bale of hay in 2010 proved to be the swan song of Mike Edwards, founding member of the prog rock band Electric Light Orchestra (aka ELO). Edwards was killed when a large, round bale of hay rolled down a hill and smashed through a wire fence and a hedge and collided with his van while he was out driving.
Source: The Guardian - 52,947 VOTES
A Fire Hydrant
In 2007, Humberto Hernandez, a 24-year-old Oakland, CA resident, was killed after being struck in the face by an airborne fire hydrant while simply walking down a city street. A passing car had struck the fire hydrant and the water pressure shot the hydrant at Hernandez with enough force to kill him.
Source: The Oakland Tribune - 62,507 VOTES
A Beard
Austrian Hans Steininger was famous for having the world's longest beard at four and a half feet long. Unfortunately, he is also famous for dying because of it.
Steininger normally kept his beard rolled up in a leather pouch, as it trailed after him and could be a hindrance. However, when a fire broke out in 1567, he neglected to roll it up properly and, in the process of fleeing, stepped on his beard, lost his balance and fell down, breaking his neck.
Source: Cabinet of Curiosities