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Strange Deaths

Ascalon said:

US man killed by car as he helped ducks cross road in Rocklin​

From the BBC.
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Well spotted.
This is a sad but also ironic death. There is also a certain element of crassness in the public reaction.

One witness, Summer Peterson, told a local CBS News affiliate her children witnessed the collision, which happened on Thursday night around 20:15 local time.
"They were saying, 'Oh, it's so cute. It's so nice of him.' And then all of a sudden he was hit by a car," she said.
People have left floral tributes and rubber ducks at the site of the collision.
An online fundraiser set up by relatives says Mr Rivara was driving his children home after their swim practice when they noticed a "mama duck and ducklings struggling to cross a busy intersection".
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- Kids saw it, including possibly his own. :(
- People have left tribute of flowers and rubber ducks at the site. Rubber ducks? Really?
- The victim was driving his children home after their swim practice.

I'll shut up now.
 
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Hmmm ...

Two Italian intelligence agents and a retired Israeli security forces member were among four victims of Sunday's boating disaster on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, local officials say.

They named the Italians as Claudio Alonzi, 62, and Tiziana Barnobi, 53. The Israeli was identified as Shimoni Erez, 50. Anya Bozhkova, the 50-year-old Russian wife of the boat's captain, also died.

The vessel with more than 20 tourists and crew sank in strong winds. According to Italian news outlets, the boat had been carrying about 25 people who were celebrating a birthday when a storm developed over the lake, later turning into a "small hurricane". The 16m (52ft) long boat capsized and sank on Sunday evening between the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona.

Everyone onboard went into the water, but many of the passengers swam ashore or were rescued by other boats.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65750743
 
ramonmercado said:
Hmmm ...

Two Italian intelligence agents and a retired Israeli security forces member were among four victims of Sunday's boating disaster on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, local officials say.

They named the Italians as Claudio Alonzi, 62, and Tiziana Barnobi, 53. The Israeli was identified as Shimoni Erez, 50. Anya Bozhkova, the 50-year-old Russian wife of the boat's captain, also died.

The vessel with more than 20 tourists and crew sank in strong winds. According to Italian news outlets, the boat had been carrying about 25 people who were celebrating a birthday when a storm developed over the lake, later turning into a "small hurricane". The 16m (52ft) long boat capsized and sank on Sunday evening between the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona.

Everyone onboard went into the water, but many of the passengers swam ashore or were rescued by other boats.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65750743
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The waters become murkier.

The story of a boat that sank on Lake Maggiore on 28 May has elements of a spy novel.

Four people tragically drowned on the picturesque and popular lake south of the Swiss Alps. One was a former agent from Israel's spy agency Mossad, two were Italian intelligence officers and the fourth victim was a Russian woman. They were among 23 people aboard the small boat that set out to cruise the lake.

It is no doubt a traumatic event for the survivors and for the families who lost loved ones - but a number of facts about the case have prompted speculation about what exactly happened.

Lake Maggiore and its shoreline are divided between the Italian regions of Lombardy and Piedmont, and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Several companies that produce technology capable of both military and civilian use are located in Lombardy - and Switzerland is considered a transit country for many intelligence members. And some of the people on the boat, of both nationalities, had apartments and houses there.

While some reports say the boat ride was an innocent pleasure trip, several major Italian news outlets are reporting that it was a secret work meeting between Italian and Israeli agents.

There is huge interest in the accident and public prosecutor Carlo Nocerino has been tasked with finding out what happened. He says 13 of those on board were Italian agents and eight were Israeli agents. Only the captain, Claudio Carminati, and his Russian wife did not work in intelligence. ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65788462
 
ramonmercado said:
The waters become murkier.

The story of a boat that sank on Lake Maggiore on 28 May has elements of a spy novel.

Four people tragically drowned on the picturesque and popular lake south of the Swiss Alps. One was a former agent from Israel's spy agency Mossad, two were Italian intelligence officers and the fourth victim was a Russian woman. They were among 23 people aboard the small boat that set out to cruise the lake.

It is no doubt a traumatic event for the survivors and for the families who lost loved ones - but a number of facts about the case have prompted speculation about what exactly happened.

Lake Maggiore and its shoreline are divided between the Italian regions of Lombardy and Piedmont, and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Several companies that produce technology capable of both military and civilian use are located in Lombardy - and Switzerland is considered a transit country for many intelligence members. And some of the people on the boat, of both nationalities, had apartments and houses there.

While some reports say the boat ride was an innocent pleasure trip, several major Italian news outlets are reporting that it was a secret work meeting between Italian and Israeli agents.

There is huge interest in the accident and public prosecutor Carlo Nocerino has been tasked with finding out what happened. He says 13 of those on board were Italian agents and eight were Israeli agents. Only the captain, Claudio Carminati, and his Russian wife did not work in intelligence. ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65788462
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Just a coincidence I'm sure.

Previously Unreported Italian Special Forces AE-90 Submarine Seen For First Time​

You know a country’s special forces capabilities are good when they lift the veil of secrecy on one of their retired submersibles and it looks more modern than most navies’ future types. Italy’s COMSUBIN (GOI, aka Incusori) combat swimmers paraded a previously unreported mini-submarine at the Republic day parade in Rome on June 2nd.

It is sometimes said, and I have often written, that Italy’s COMSUBIN are about 10 years ahead of everyone else in underwater vehicles. When you look at submarines like this, it’s possible to wonder whether it’s actually more. The craft is understood to be a legacy AE-90 design from specialist submarine builder CABI Cattaneo. It likely dates from the 1990s and has been retired some time. It may hint at more recent types as Italian submersibles are developed in families.

Naturally information on the submarine is sparse. Yet we can infer some things from external hints. The vehicle is a dry submarine although the hatch on port side appears to open directly into the main interior section, suggesting a wet-or-dry operating mode. The hatch on tip opens forward, suggesting that it’s not intended to be used for surface navigation. It is unclear whether there is another diver hatch in the bottom of the submarine.

http://www.hisutton.com/Italy-COMSUBIN-Submarine.html
 
A celebrity death that I had never heard reported before, concerning William Holden:
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/1...Holden-was-killed-in-a-drunken/5053176822304/

Oscar-winning actor William Holden was killed in a drunken fall at his beachfront apartment, in which he slipped on a throw rug and smashed his head on a bedside table, officials said Tuesday.

Coroner Thomas Noguchi said the autopsy and preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the actor's death sometime last week indicated it was 'accidental.' He said there were no other injuries or indications of foul play at this time.

'The death was caused by an accidental fall involving tripping over or slipping on a throw rug, then falling into the sharp edge of a bedside table,' Noguichi said.

The coroner said there was a 'deep cut' on his forehead, which was followed by 'massive bleeding,' the actual cause of death.

Assistant Coroner Richard Wilson said Holden was 'very intoxicated' when he died, with a blood-alcohol reading of .22.

'That level means he was heavily intoxicated,' Wilson said. 'Even though the alcohol level rises when a body decomposes -- and this body was badly decomposed -- that level is far above the legal limit of .10.'

Noguchi said the investigation indicated that actor Glenn Ford was the last person to see Holden alive. He said Ford had not yet been interviewed by his office and he refused to reveal details of the two actors' final meeting.

'Yeah, I guess I was the last one to see Bill alive,' Ford told United Press International when informed of the coroner's statements.

'It was about two weeks ago when he came to the house for dinner. That night Cynthia (Ford's wife) took a portrait of Bill. It's probably the last picture taken of him.

'He was in good spirits and we talked about a number of things, including a book I am writing. Bill was interested in writing a book of his own. Bill said, 'The one thing I want to do is write a book before I die.'

'We reminisced about the funny things, the good things and the sad things in our lives together.'

The coroner said the investigation indicated that Holden may have lived as long as 30 minutes after striking his head on the table, causing a 2 -inch gash above his right eye.

Noguchi said Holden tried to stop the bleeding with tissues before passing out and bleeding to death, and apparently never tried to telephone for help.

'It seemed that Mr. Holden was not aware of the severity of his injury,' the coroner said.

'Based on available information, we have determined he was a very private person who probably tried to help himself.'

Noguchi said the rug and the bed and several tissues found at the scene were all soaked with blood. When Holden struck the table, he added, he pushed it back so hard that it punched out a 2-inch hole in the wall.

Foul play was ruled out, the coroner said, because there was no evidence of a struggle, nothing had been taken from the premises and the rest of the apartment was 'meticulous.'

He said an empty quart bottle of vodka was found in the apartment, along with a nearly-full bottle in the kitchen.

Nogochi said further routine toxicological and other forensic laboratory tests will be performed.

The coroner, his chief pathologist and police detectives visited the Santa Monica, Calif., apartment earlier Tuesday to look for 'specific information' about the movie star's medical background.

'There were certain things that came out during the autopsy and the examination of the body and the boss just wanted to check them out himself,' Wilson said.
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Airline Fined $15K After Woman ‘Ingested’ into Plane’s Engine​


A subsidiary of American Airlines has received a hefty fine following the death of a ground crew worker who was ingested into a plane’s engine in Alabama.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s $15,000 fine against Piedmont Airlines comes as investigators say it was to blame for a safety breach, the New York Post reported Friday.

The breach led to the death of a mother identified as Courtney Edwards, the incident happening at Montgomery Regional Airport on December 31.

Leaders with the National Transportation Safety Board said the 34-year-old was “ingested into the engine” while on the ramp at the airport where an American Airlines flight was parked at the time.

The airport’s ground crew apparently held two safety briefings minutes prior to the plane’s arrival at the gate, and workers were instructed not to go near it until the engine was cut off and a light beacon was switched into the off position.

When the plane arrived, the pilot was informed the front cargo door was being opened in the moments he was working to close down one of the aircraft’s engines.

Surveillance footage reportedly recorded the moment Edwards walked toward the back of the aircraft.

Moments later, the woman reportedly disappeared and the tragic incident happened not long afterwards.

https://www.breitbart.com/health/2023/06/18/airline-fined-15k-after-woman-ingested-planes-engine/

maximus otter
 
This is tragic, but they did have a safety briefing beforehand to warn people away from the engines.
What more could they have done?
 
Mythopoeika said:
This is tragic, but they did have a safety briefing beforehand to warn people away from the engines.
What more could they have done?
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They can put physical barrier such as a gate/fence in front, barring someone walking into area before engines have fully shut off. The barrier could be a moveable one.

People certainly can't just get onto a plane before it is shut off. There are barriers preventing them access to the planes. Why are employees not protected in the same way? Oh, maybe because the penalty for a workplace death is only $15,000 :rolleyes:

The newscast does state that statistics show that airline workers have a 2x plus higher incidents of injury than all other private industry workplaces.
 
brownmane said:
Omg. How broken that person must have been to do this. It's not even quick and painless. Very sad.
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Yet people watch that and worse in films and call it entertainment. Strange world we live in.

it's still an horrific thing to do to the self though.
 
brownmane said:
They can put physical barrier such as a gate/fence in front, barring someone walking into area before engines have fully shut off. The barrier could be a moveable one.

People certainly can't just get onto a plane before it is shut off. There are barriers preventing them access to the planes. Why are employees not protected in the same way? Oh, maybe because the penalty for a workplace death is only $15,000 :rolleyes:

The newscast does state that statistics show that airline workers have a 2x plus higher incidents of injury than all other private industry workplaces.
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But I would expect, of all people, airport workers to be the MOST aware of the dangers of plane engines, especially given the fact that they will be given regular updates and briefings about safety. Surely, telling someone of the dangers ought to be enough, without having to provide physical barriers? I mean, we all know that you don't walk on a motorway, we don't need physical restraints to prevent us - it's dangerous, so we don't do it.
 
brownmane said:
COLD.
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My old flatmate's Mother had an affair with one of her patients. They're now happily together, live on an awesome huge house boat together, he kicked the drink (with her support) about 10 years ago .. he was a bit of an idiot when I first met him but he's exactly the opposite these days and and a pleasure to be around instead. He's a cool guy. The Nightingale effect does sometimes work.
 
catseye said:
But I would expect, of all people, airport workers to be the MOST aware of the dangers of plane engines, especially given the fact that they will be given regular updates and briefings about safety. Surely, telling someone of the dangers ought to be enough, without having to provide physical barriers? I mean, we all know that you don't walk on a motorway, we don't need physical restraints to prevent us - it's dangerous, so we don't do it.
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1. New workers are at the greatest risk of death in the workplace.

2. Companies are responsible for worker safety. Obviously, airline workers are not protected as indicated by the stat I stated comparing risk of injury to other private industrial workplaces.

3. Agriculture has some of the highest fatality stats in Canada as shown in this:

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/default.html

Having grown up on a farm, I will never say that "you should have known better" with any farming accident. I do know the dangers of combines, tractors, grain silos, hydraulics etc.

I'm sure the employees are fully aware of what can go wrong.

I have great respect for large machinery. Many people don't, simply because they did not grow up with it.

Ask any transport truck driver about all of the car drivers who blithely cut in front of them leaving no space should they need to stop suddenly. These car drivers have no awareness that these huge machines could in no way stop from crushing them if there were an accident. The truck driver can do nothing.

All of these industries have the duty to keep their employees safe.

3. Exhaustion, distraction, many things can lead to a tragic accident.

I don't agree with your opinion that "they should have known" for the reasons I listed above. We have no idea of what training people have been given nor their understanding of written or spoken directions - not everyone has English as first language.

To make a physical barrier which may keep the intake engines blocked from the workers is not a great expense to save lives.
 
Certainly around here there are a lot of agricultural injuries. But these are almost always farmers who ignore safety advice or use PTO shafts without the safety cover fitted, or who go into grain silos or slurry pits despite knowing that these are dangerous. It's the 'oh, it's only this once, I'll be quick, just got to...' It wouldn't matter what safety measures were taken, they'd still do it, cutting corners, trying to be quick.

Personal responsibility has to come in somewhere. There's noone going round farms putting safety barriers in place to prevent farm workers getting hurt.
 
catseye said:
But I would expect, of all people, airport workers to be the MOST aware of the dangers of plane engines, especially given the fact that they will be given regular updates and briefings about safety. Surely, telling someone of the dangers ought to be enough, without having to provide physical barriers? I mean, we all know that you don't walk on a motorway, we don't need physical restraints to prevent us - it's dangerous, so we don't do it.
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Yet people are killed on the motorway when not in cars. It only takes a moments lack of concentration or stupidity to end everything.
 
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