Les Éditions Vincent Deroy Les Éditions Vincent Deroy – Horreur, fantastique, polars et bien plus encore
Death is inevitable… but it sometimes strikes in remarkably unexpected ways.
Here is a collection of unusual cases where fate took surprising and often bewildering turns.
Early 20th Century
1911 – Jack Daniel
The founder of the Tennessee whiskey distillery died from an infection caused by a foot injury he sustained after kicking his safe in frustration when he couldn’t remember the combination.
1912 – Franz Reichelt
A tailor and inventor, he attempted to test his “parachute coat” by jumping from the Eiffel Tower. The experiment failed and proved fatal.
1912 – Lawrence Oates
Member of the Terra Nova expedition, he sacrificed himself during the return journey from the South Pole to avoid slowing down his weakened companions.
1916 – Rasputin
The Russian mystic survived several assassination attempts before ultimately dying after being thrown into an icy river.
1920 – Ray Chapman
A baseball player who died after being struck by a pitched ball during a game.
1927 – J.G. Parry‑Thomas
A British racing driver who died during a land‑speed record attempt after a mechanical failure.
1927 – Isadora Duncan
The dancer died when her scarf became entangled in the wheel of a moving car.
1928 – Alexander Bogdanov
A physician and pioneer of blood transfusion, he died following an experimental blood exchange that went wrong.
1930s to 1950s
1935 – Len Koenecke
A baseball player who died aboard a plane after an altercation with a crew member.
1941 – Sherwood Anderson
The writer died from internal complications after accidentally swallowing a toothpick.
1944 – Thomas Midgley Jr.
The inventor died after becoming entangled in a mechanical device he had designed.
1945 – Harry K. Daghlian Jr.
A scientist on the Manhattan Project who died from accidental exposure to radioactive material.
1951 – Joan Vollmer
She died after her partner, writer William S. Burroughs, attempted a reckless stunt while intoxicated.
1960s
1960 – Nedelin Disaster
Over 100 Soviet technicians and officials died during a rocket accident triggered by an unintended activation.
1964 – John White
A Scottish footballer who was struck by lightning while sheltering under a tree.
1966 – Julien Carette
The French actor died following an accidental fire in his apartment.
1967 – Vladimir Komarov
The first person to die during a space mission, due to a parachute failure on re‑entry.
1970s
1972 – Leslie Harvey
Guitarist who died from electrocution during a live performance.
1973 – Péter Vályi
Hungarian finance minister who died after falling into a furnace during an industrial visit.
1973 – Bruce Lee
The actor died from a severe reaction to a pain medication.
1974 – Christine Chubbuck
An American reporter who took her own life during a live broadcast.
1977 – Patrecia Scott
She died following a presumed epileptic episode triggered by sunlight reflecting off her pool.
1978 – Georgi Markov
A Bulgarian dissident assassinated in London using a device concealed in an umbrella.
1980s
1981 – Renée Hartevelt
A Dutch student who was killed by a classmate in Paris.
1981 – Boris Sagal
A film director who died after walking too close to a helicopter’s tail rotor.
1982 – Vic Morrow
Actor who died in a helicopter accident on a film set.
1982 – Randy Rhoads
Guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, killed in a plane accident.
1983 – Tennessee Williams
The writer died after accidentally choking on a small object.
1984 – Jon‑Erik Hexum
Actor who died after mishandling a firearm loaded with blank cartridges.
1987 – Budd Dwyer
An American politician who took his own life during a televised press conference.
1989 – Ole Bentzen
A Danish speech therapist who died from cardiac arrest triggered by uncontrollable laughter.
1990s
1990 – Joseph W. Burrus
A magician who died during a buried‑alive stunt involving a plastic coffin and wet cement.
1993 – Brandon Lee
Actor who died on the set of The Crow due to an accidental firearm discharge.
1993 – Garry Hoy
A Toronto lawyer who fell to his death while demonstrating the strength of a window that detached from its frame.
1999 – Owen Hart
Professional wrestler who died during a stunt involving a harness malfunction.
2000s
2004 – Dimebag Darrell (Darrell Abbott)
Guitarist for Pantera and Damageplan, killed on stage by an armed assailant.
(Source: Wikipedia)
