Bobby Leach survived falling over Niagara Falls in a barrel, only to die because he slipped on an orange peel - Christine Chubbuck suffered depression, and shot herself on live television - and Frank Hayes died in the middle of a horse race yet still went on to win like a champion!
Here is a very brief look at the strange and tragic deaths some people have suffered (please note that these stories are not linked).
Bobby Leach
Bobby Leach and his barrel. Date of Death: April 26, 1926
Manner of Death: Slipped on an orange peel
Bobby Leach was a well known English dare devil. He was not at all afraid to tempt death, having worked with the circus Barnum and Bailey as a stuntman. Bobby was the second person to ever go over the Niagara Falls in a barrel, and performed many, many other death-defying stunts.... but he couldn’t defy death forever, and then one day, death came knocking, in the strangest of ways...
Fifteen years after his world famous plunge over the famous waterfall Bobby was walking down a quiet, New Zealand street. He was in New Zealand on a lecture tour. As he walked, he slipped on an orange peel. The fall caused a massive break in his leg, and one which would not mend. His leg needed to be amputated, and unfortunately Bobby died due to complications following the surgery.
Manner of Death: Slipped on an orange peel
Bobby Leach was a well known English dare devil. He was not at all afraid to tempt death, having worked with the circus Barnum and Bailey as a stuntman. Bobby was the second person to ever go over the Niagara Falls in a barrel, and performed many, many other death-defying stunts.... but he couldn’t defy death forever, and then one day, death came knocking, in the strangest of ways...
Fifteen years after his world famous plunge over the famous waterfall Bobby was walking down a quiet, New Zealand street. He was in New Zealand on a lecture tour. As he walked, he slipped on an orange peel. The fall caused a massive break in his leg, and one which would not mend. His leg needed to be amputated, and unfortunately Bobby died due to complications following the surgery.
Christine Chubbuck
Christine Chubbuck. Date of Death: July 15, 1974
Manner of Death: Suicide on live television.
Thankfully Christine Chubbuck has been the only news reporter to ever commit suicide during a live broadcast.
For the first eight minutes of the show Christine was the host for, she told the national news, covering a local restaurant shooting among other things.
Eight minutes into the broadcast, she turned to the camera and said "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living colour, you are going to see another first: an attempted suicide." With that, Chubbuck drew up a revolver and shot herself in the head. She died 14 hours later in hospital.
The network immediately ceased airing, and soon after switched to a movie. People called 911 reporting the incident. Others believed it was a hoax. Christine was known to have suffered from depression.
Manner of Death: Suicide on live television.
Thankfully Christine Chubbuck has been the only news reporter to ever commit suicide during a live broadcast.
For the first eight minutes of the show Christine was the host for, she told the national news, covering a local restaurant shooting among other things.
Eight minutes into the broadcast, she turned to the camera and said "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living colour, you are going to see another first: an attempted suicide." With that, Chubbuck drew up a revolver and shot herself in the head. She died 14 hours later in hospital.
The network immediately ceased airing, and soon after switched to a movie. People called 911 reporting the incident. Others believed it was a hoax. Christine was known to have suffered from depression.
Frank Hayes
Frank Hayes. Date of Death: June 4, 1923
Manner of Death: Heart attack while horse racing
On 4 June, 1923 Frank was entered into a horse race at Belmont Park on Long Island. The horse “Sweet Kiss” raced exceptionally well and crossed the finish line first. It wasn’t until the owner and trainer came down to congratulate Frank, only to have him fall from the saddle, that they realised he was dead.
Somewhere on the track Frank had suffered from a heart attack. He had died straight away, but for some reason his body had remained in the saddle, slumped over in the style of jockey’s. It was believed his heart gave out due to the training and dieting required to make it as a jockey.
Frank’s death is noted as the only time in sporting history that a competition was won by a dead man. Frank was 35 when he died.
'Sweet Kiss' went on to be known by some as 'Sweet Kiss of Death'.
Manner of Death: Heart attack while horse racing
On 4 June, 1923 Frank was entered into a horse race at Belmont Park on Long Island. The horse “Sweet Kiss” raced exceptionally well and crossed the finish line first. It wasn’t until the owner and trainer came down to congratulate Frank, only to have him fall from the saddle, that they realised he was dead.
Somewhere on the track Frank had suffered from a heart attack. He had died straight away, but for some reason his body had remained in the saddle, slumped over in the style of jockey’s. It was believed his heart gave out due to the training and dieting required to make it as a jockey.
Frank’s death is noted as the only time in sporting history that a competition was won by a dead man. Frank was 35 when he died.
'Sweet Kiss' went on to be known by some as 'Sweet Kiss of Death'.
By Peet Banks 2014
Put together by Ashley Hall 2014
Put together by Ashley Hall 2014
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