14 Bizarre Ways People Have Died That Prove Death Has A Sense Of Humor
Knowing that we all die one day is one of the hardest parts of being a human being, but sometimes death has an odd sense of humor.
These stories all have one thing in common. Death came, like it comes for us all, but it happened in such a bizarrely hilarious way that it blurred the line between comedy and tragedy.
1. Crushed by a Falling Cow
2013, Brazil. A man resting at home lost his life when a cow fell through the roof after climbing a nearby hillside, landing on the bed. The animal and his wife were unharmed.
2. King’s Feast Turns Fatal
King Adolph Frederick, 1771, Sweden. After an extremely lavish meal featuring lobster, caviar, champagne, and numerous desserts, the Swedish king passed away, likely due to severe digestive complications.
3. The Donkey Punchline
208 BC, Ancient Greece. Chrysippus of Soli is said to have laughed uncontrollably at a joke involving a donkey eating figs, collapsed, and did not recover. While debated, the story appears in several ancient accounts.
4. The Eiffel Tower Parachute Test
1912, Paris, France. Inventor and tailor Reichelt leapt from the Eiffel Tower to test a wearable parachute of his own design. The device did not function as intended, and he did not survive the attempt.
5. Botulism Banquet
1922, Loch Maree, Scotland. Eight hotel guests lost their lives after consuming food contaminated with botulism, marking the first recorded outbreak of its kind in the United Kingdom.
6. Chain Reaction Tragedy
1980s, Buenos Aires, Argentina. A dog fell from a high-rise balcony, fatally injuring a passerby. In the chaos that followed, another person was struck by a bus, and a third individual suffered a fatal medical emergency after witnessing the events.
7. Robot’s Fault
1979, Michigan, USA. A factory worker at a Ford plant was involved in a fatal workplace accident with a robotic arm, becoming the first known industrial passing involving a robot.
8. Electrocution While Aiding Pets
2004, New York City, USA. While walking her dogs, Lane stepped onto an electrified utility cover while trying to assist them and was fatally injured.
9. Lightning Telephone Call
1985, New Jersey, USA. During a thunderstorm, a lightning strike traveled through a telephone line while Jason Findley was on a call, resulting in his death.
10. The Irony of Demonstration
Clement Vallandigham, 1871, Ohio, USA. While reenacting a courtroom scenario to prove a defendant’s innocence, the politician accidentally injured himself with a firearm, an event that ultimately supported the defense’s case.
11. Bite Turns Lethal
Allan Pinkerton, 1884, Chicago, USA. After slipping and badly injuring his tongue, the detective agency founder developed a serious infection and passed away several months later.
12. Tragedy from Laughter?
Sir Thomas Urquhart, 1660s, Scotland. Some historical sources claim the writer and nobleman died after becoming overwhelmed with laughter upon hearing of King Charles II’s return to the throne.
13. The Dancing Plague
1518, Strasbourg (then Holy Roman Empire). In a mysterious historical event, large groups of people danced uncontrollably for days. Many eventually died from exhaustion or related medical complications.
14. The Beard That Betrayed Him
Hans Steininger, 1567, Austria. Known for his 4.5-foot beard, Steininger became tangled in it while escaping a fire, fell, and suffered fatal injuries.