Death is rarely funny, but history has produced a handful of cases so improbable they've been retold for decades, even centuries.
The Lawyer and the "Unbreakable" Window
In 1993, Toronto lawyer Garry Hoy fell to his death from the 24th floor of the Toronto-Dominion Centre while demonstrating to a group of visitors that the building's windows were supposedly unbreakable. Hoy threw himself against the glass to prove his point; the glass didn't shatter, but the entire window popped out of its frame, and he fell with it.
The Duke and the Wine Barrel
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, was executed in February 1478 in the Tower of London. According to a widely repeated account, he was drowned in a barrel of Malmsey wine, reportedly at his own request -- though historians note the story's accuracy has never been definitively confirmed.
The Earl and the Enemy's Head
According to Norse saga accounts, Sigurd the Mighty, Earl of Orkney, strapped the severed head of a defeated rival, Máel Brigte, to his saddle as a trophy after battle in the 9th century. A tooth from the head reportedly scraped his leg during the ride, and the resulting infection is said to have killed him days later.
The King Who Ate Himself to Death
Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden, died in 1771 after consuming an enormous final meal -- lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, smoked herring, and champagne, followed by 14 servings of a semla pastry dessert served in hot milk. Swedish schoolchildren have long remembered him as "the king who ate himself to death."
FAQ
Are these stories historically verified?
They vary. Garry Hoy's death and Adolf Frederick's are well-documented historical events; the accounts of the Duke of Clarence and Sigurd the Mighty rely partly on tradition and saga sources that are harder to independently verify in full detail.
What is Malmsey wine?
A sweet fortified wine, historically associated with Madeira, referenced in the traditional account of the Duke of Clarence's execution.
What is semla?
A traditional Swedish pastry, typically a cream-filled bun, associated with the story of Adolf Frederick's death.