8 of the Strangest Deaths From Across History
If you’ve been thinking about taking out a life insurance policy, but can’t quite decide if it’s worthwhile, put yourself in the shoes of these unlucky people who not only left this earth sooner than they may have expected, but did so in the most unusual fashion.
Death by Electrocution… on the Toilet!
In 1983, Michael Anderson Godwin, a convicted murderer who was facing death by electrocution had his sentence reduced to life in prison. However, little did he know at the time that he would accidentally electrocute himself six years later.
Godwin met his maker while adjusting the headphones that were plugged into his prison cell’s TV; he bit into the wire, while sitting on a steel-rimmed toilet, and unwittingly electrocuted himself.
Unbreakable Glass
In an attempt to prove that the glass of the Toronto-Dominion Centre was unbreakable, 38-year-old Garry Hoy threw himself against the window. As it turned out, he was right; the glass didn’t break – although he never expected the window frame to be so weak. When the window popped out of its frame, he fell 24 floors to his death.
A Killer Orange
Daredevil Bobby Leach was always a risk-taker, and in 1911 he became the second person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Well renowned for his uncanny ability to cheat death in even the most daring circumstances, he ended up dying after slipping on an orange peel…
He broke his leg so badly that it needed to be amputated, and he died from surgical complications.
Attacked by a Cow in Bed
In 2013, Brazilian man, Joao Maria de Souzza died when a cow fell through his roof as he slept.
The 45-year-old man had been sleeping soundly in bed with his wife, when the animal in question climbed onto the corrugated roof that backed onto a hill, before falling eight feet onto Mr de Souza’s side of the bed. He later died from internal bleeding while waiting to be treated by doctors.
Killed by a Robot
Have you ever wondered who the first person to die at the mercy of a robot was? Well, it was Robert Williams, a Ford assembly line worker who was accidentally hit by a robot arm in 1979.
An Accidental Shooting
While trying to prove a point in court, Clement Vallandigham, a 19th century lawyer in the US accidentally shot himself to death.
His client was accused of killing a man; but Mr Vallandigham defended his client by arguing the victim had accidentally shot himself. When he went to demonstrate this in court he wasn’t aware that his gun was in fact loaded.
As it turns out, his daring argument proved successful, as his client was later acquitted of his murder charges.
Death by Sweetener
In 1919 the streets of Boston were flooded by a 25ft high wave of sweetener that sped through the streets at 35mph, after a tank of molasses burst. The Boston Molasses Disaster of 1919 claimed the lives of 21 people who were just going about their business.
Drowning in Beer
Perhaps a little less sticky than sweetener, but just as deadly, eight people were killed in the London Beer Flood of 1814. A giant vat at a brewery burst, sending more than 3,500 barrels of beer pouring through the nearby streets, an accident that proved fatal for a few unfortunate souls.
If these somewhat bizarre deaths prove anything, it’s that life is short. Make sure your family is protected financially in the event something happens to you. Talk to Sarina Insurance about life insurance and income protection today!
