We often wonder how people actually survived accidents or about the unusual circumstances in which people were killed. Here are some really amazing stories some from history and then one firsthand from a local citizen.
Unhappy Endings
According to legend, The ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus was killed when an eagle dropped a tortoise on his head. The bird was trying to break the tortoise’s shell on a rock in order to eat it. Aeschylus was bald, and the eagle thought the unfortunate man’s head was a good rock for breaking a turtle.
On Memorial Day of 1987, a forty year old Louisiana lawyer was in his boat as a thunderstorm approached. He raised his arms over his head to the sky and said, as if to challenge nature. Here I am. He was struck by a bolt of lightning and died instantly. The man’s first name was Graves.
Some people worry about being hit from things falling from outer space. There is only one person in all recorded history who has been killed by a meteorite Manfredo Settala (1600-1680)
Happy Endings
A German soldier was riding in the back seat of a World War I plane when the engine suddenly stopped. He fell out of his seat while the plane was over two miles above ground. As he was falling, the plane started falling too, and he was blown back into his own seat by the wind. The pilot was able to land the plane safely.
Bob Hail jumped out of an airplane. His main parachute failed. His backup parachute also failed. He hit the ground face first. After a moment, he got up and walked away with only minor injuries.