Unit 3: Unusual Accidents and Deaths

 Unusual Accidents & Deaths

Many people are interested in stories of unusual accidents- some of these stories have happy endings, but some, unfortunately, have unhappy ones.

   Unhappy Endings

According to the 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 on which it could break the shell.

On Memorial Day of 1907, a forty-year-old Louisiana lawyer was in his boat as a challenge nature: “Here I am.” He was struck by a bolt of lightning and died instantly. The man's last 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. The tragedy happened in 1680.

In Prague, Czech Republic, a woman hurled herself out of a third-floor window because she had learned that her husband was in love with another woman. The husband was entering the building just as she jumped, and she fell on top of him. She survived. He died on the spot.

   Happy Endings

A German soldier was riding in the back seat of a World War I plane when the engine stalled as a result of an unusual gust of wind. He fell out of his seat while the plane was high above the ground. As he was falling, the plane's engine started again, and he landed back in his own seat. The pilot was then able to land the plane safely.

Bob hail jumped out of an airplane in November 1972, but his main parachute failed to open. His backup parachute also failed. Bob dropped about 3,000 feet (900 meters) at 80 miles (128 kilometers) per hour and hit the ground face first. After a moment, he got up and walked away with only minor injuries. It was an amazing escape.

In September 2007, Phil Lamattina escaped death when he was driving at over 300 miles (500 kilometers) per hour in a drag race in Brisbane, Australia. Phil was racing down the track when his car became airborne, split in two, and burst into a fireball. He was knocked out, but he survived. Although he was in the midst of the ball of fire, Phil was burned only on the tip of his figure. When his brothers later showed him the video of the accident, Phil couldn't believe he was watching himself-and that he had such a lucky escape.

Railroad worker Phineas P. Gage was working with some dynamite when it exploded unexpectedly. A bar that was 3 feet (1 meter) long and that weighed 13 pounds (6 kilograms) went clear through his head. He remained conscious, but was unable to see out of his left eye. After a while, his sight returned, and he fully recovered.