A man in Singapore recently died when aromatherapy oil fumes ignited in a flash fire, reminiscent of the bizarre deaths in “Final Destination”, and reminding us that death can come by the most innocuous of means.
Death by smartphone
Image belongs to Matthew Hurst
Charge smartphone, check. Slip it in an easy-to-reach shirt pocket, check. Cope with explosion…? That’s what happened to an unfortunate 20 year old in China in 2009 when his newly charged phone exploded, cut an artery in his neck and left him in a pool of blood. PS: Just steer clear of counterfeit batteries, because your back pocket is not much safer – your butt has arteries too.
Death by drone battery
Image belongs to Doodybutch
These black boxes are a “major suspect” in a Singapore house fire that claimed the lives of two senior citizens. After three drone batteries were left charging overnight on a carpeted floor, a domestic helper woke to the smell of smoke and a living room partly ablaze. Luckily a prompt evacuation saved many residents, both old and young.
Death by durian
Image belongs to Takato Marui
A falling durian tragically killed a month old baby in Malaysia in 2012. His mother was carrying him to collect laundry when a 2kg fruit fell from a tree and hit him on the head. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he died two hours later.
Death by soup
Soup is a great restorative, until it’s injected directly into you. When 88 year old Ilda Vitor Maciel was hospitalised for stroke in 2012, hospital staff mistakenly injected her with soup instead of putting it in her feeding tube, probably causing her death. The ensuing lawsuit was really the hospital’s just desserts.
Death by hair extension
Image belongs to Andy Eick
Looks can kill, but this is ridiculous. Atasha Graham, a frequent user of hair extensions had danced the night away at a club, but collapsed at home, from an allergic reaction to the glue used in her hair extensions.
Death by toothpick
The pen may be mightier than the sword, but novelist Sherwood Anderson was felled by a toothpick. On a cruise in 1941, Sherwood encountered stomach pains that required medical attention. Subsequent examination revealed the culprit: a martini olive toothpick he had swallowed whole. It had damaged his organs leading to infection, and finally his death.
Death by underwear
Image belongs to Eric Wustenhagen
Underwear is for keeping our junk in order, but Brad Lee Davis decided to get creative with it in a drunken brawl. After attacking his own stepfather, Brad pulled his underwear over his head and around his neck, whereupon he suffocated
Death by fire hydrant
Image belongs to 玄史生
This lifesaving tool inadvertently killed someone in 2007. An SUV rammed into a fire hydrant sending it shooting up under water pressure. Sadly, Humberto Hernandez was walking with his wife a few feet ahead, and was struck fatally by the iron projectile.
Death by dessert spoon
Image belongs to Sarah Reid
A spoon as a weapon? Strange as it sounds, Richard Clare grabbed the tiny utensil for his argument with Timothy Magee and struck him on the head. The force was somehow enough to rupture an artery in his head, causing a hemorrhage and death.
Death by deodorant
Image belongs to Andrew Magill
Cleanliness is next to godliness, but Jonathan Capewell took it too far. He loved smelling fresh and sprayed himself with deodorant twice a day in his bedroom. After months of this practice, he collapsed from a heart attack, with 10 times the lethal level of propane and butane in his bloodstream.
Death by air conditioner
Image belongs to Chriskay
An air conditioner is a lifesaver when the haze is on. However for Vito DeGiorgio, it was anything but. While walking in New York City, an air conditioner fell loose from its moorings seven stories above and dealt him a mortal blow on the head.
Death by flashlight
Image belongs to Mjtmail
Wannabe burglars should avoid the dangers of this shifty business altogether. Santiago Alvarado was burglarising a bicycle shop with a flashlight between his teeth when he fell through the ceiling. Upon impact with the ground, the flashlight lodged in his throat, ending his life.
The signs of Death can be found even on innocent objects, so arm yourself with knowledge and you’ll be on your way to cheating death.
