Buzz
Laughter is often hailed as the best remedy, but, like any form of treatment, too much of it can have adverse effects. For most people, the most noticeable side effect of a good laugh is a sore ribcage and possibly some wet underwear, but for a select few, there's a genuine risk of overdosing on humor.
Some individuals have pre-existing conditions that make hearty laughter dangerous, while others laugh so intensely they forget to take a breath. Whatever it was that triggered their laughter, some might have been better off trying to stay serious. If you're keen on avoiding death by laughter, here are a few situations to steer clear of.
10. A Casual Dose of Humor
In 1975, Alex Mitchell was watching a bizarre British comedy show called The Goodies. During an episode titled “Kung Fu Capers,” the trio of Goodies attempted to master a peculiar British martial art called “Ecky Thump,” where fighters wield black pudding to strike each other.
Though it may not have been the type of humor that resonates universally, Alex Mitchell found it absolutely uproarious. So much so, in fact, that his uncontrollable laughter triggered a cardiac arrest.
It's thought that Mr. Mitchell may have had long QT syndrome, a heart condition that can cause a heart attack when provoked by stress or adrenaline. After his passing, doctors tested other family members and discovered that his daughter also had the condition, though it can be managed.
Following the tragic event, Alex Mitchell's wife penned a letter to the three Goodies, expressing her gratitude for giving her husband such a joyful final experience.
9. An Evening at the Opera
In 1782, Mrs. Fitzherbert attended a performance of The Beggar’s Opera at Drury Lane. Perhaps, as the widow of a clergyman, she had led a rather sheltered existence. Or maybe she had simply never encountered a pantomime before.
Whatever the reason, the sight of a man in drag on stage caused Mrs. Fitzherbert to burst into uncontrollable laughter. With such behavior frowned upon at the opera, she quickly left her seat and stepped outside, where her bout of ‘hysterics’ continued unabated.
As reported by The Gentleman’s Magazine (which is not to be confused with a men’s magazine), Mrs. Fitzherbert ‘could not rid herself of the image, leading her into a fit of hysterics that lasted without pause until Friday morning, at which point she passed away.’
8. An Evening with Friends
In 1893, Wesley Parsons was enjoying a lively dinner with his friends. Although his exact age remains unknown, he was described as ‘aged.’ This elderly farmer from Indiana shared a meal, a drink, and a joke. While we can’t be sure of the food, it’s likely that the drinks flowed generously, as Wesley Parsons, while attempting to entertain, laughed at his own joke.
Reports from that time claim that he was ‘struck by a laughing fit that he could not stop. He laughed for an entire hour, before beginning to hiccup, and two hours later, he died from exhaustion.’
Although the death was documented, the joke was not. Perhaps that’s for the best. A joke with such power could be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands.
7. The Beauty of Fine Art
Zeuxis was one of ancient Greece's most renowned painters. Although none of his artworks are believed to have survived, he was known for his depictions of single figures, particularly the gods. Descriptions of works, such as Zeus surrounded by other deities or Eros adorned with roses, have endured through time.
It is said that he passed away after painting a picture, presumably of Aphrodite, whom he portrayed as an unattractive elderly woman. As he completed the painting, the absurdity of depicting the Goddess of Love and Beauty as a decrepit old woman struck him so deeply that, each time he gazed at the painting, he laughed harder until, ultimately, he collapsed and died.
The notion of Zeuxis’s final moments seems to have resonated with painters. In 1685, the artist Aert de Gelder portrayed himself as Zeuxis, and Rembrandt’s Laughing self-portrait is also thought to be a reference to his ancient Greek predecessor.
6. The Burdened Beasts
Donkeys aren’t typically viewed as particularly humorous. Foolish, perhaps, but funny?
The stoic philosopher Chrysippus would beg to differ. Chrysippus was usually a serious man, preoccupied with topics like metaphysical theory, materialist ontology, freedom, and determinism—all of which sound rather heavy.
Perhaps Chrysippus had endured a long day of deep thought when he happened upon a donkey munching on his figs. After observing the scene for a while, he shouted, “Now give the donkey some fine wine to accompany the figs!”
The philosopher’s joke entertained him so greatly that he collapsed with laughter, soon foaming at the mouth. It’s believed that he died from laughter-induced syncope, a condition that can cause brain tissue death, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of consciousness, and ultimately death.
5. A Royal Affair
Thomas Urquhart, born in 1611, was a rather peculiar individual. There’s still debate on whether he was a prankster, a con artist, or simply mad. A gifted scholar, he attended university at the age of 11. He fought for King Charles I and was knighted for his service. Later, he fought for Charles II and, after losing, was imprisoned in the Tower of London by Oliver Cromwell.
He claimed to trace his ancestry all the way back to Adam and Eve, and even boasted that it was his forefather who discovered Moses in the bulrushes. He also asserted connections to the Queen of Sheba, supposedly living in disguise in Ireland, to Fergus of Scotland (who likely never existed), and to King Arthur (who definitely didn’t).
Oliver Cromwell kept him imprisoned for an extended period, but eventually concluded that Urquhart was likely mad, yet harmless, and set him free. In 1660, upon hearing that Cromwell had been overthrown and that King Charles II was to be restored to the throne, Urquhart erupted in a fit of 'excessive laughter' and died shortly after.
4. A Fatal Night's Rest
Dreaming is usually a safe and harmless activity. Even nightmares can't truly harm us. For Damnoen Saen-um of Thailand, however, his dreams—though joyful—led to his demise.
In 2003, according to his wife, the ice cream truck driver suddenly burst into laughter while asleep. His laughter lasted for two minutes, becoming so intense that his wife grew worried and tried to wake him. However, Damnoen did not stir and laughed even harder, until he suddenly stopped breathing.
Though the exact cause of death remains unclear, it is believed that the laughter may have triggered a heart seizure.
3. A King’s Final Chuckle
King Martin of Aragon is thought to be the only monarch who laughed himself to death. After indulging in a whole goose, he began to suffer from bloating and indigestion. Seeking relief, he retired to his chambers and, to distract himself, called for his jester.
It seems the jester was hesitant to visit a gassy king in his bedroom. It’s known that the jester took a while to respond to the summons, and when he finally arrived, the king inquired where he had been. The jester answered, “In the next vineyard, where I saw a young deer hanging by its tail from a tree, as if someone had punished it for stealing figs.”
The jester, it seems, had an excellent sense of humor. The king found the joke so amusing that he laughed non-stop for three hours, ignoring his discomfort from indigestion. Ultimately, he laughed himself out of bed, and by the time he hit the floor, he had passed away.
2. A Laugh at the Newspaper
They say inflation can be deadly, and for Arthur Cobcroft of Sydney, Australia, it certainly was. In 1920, the 54-year-old dog trainer stumbled upon a five-year-old newspaper and began comparing past prices with today’s. This sparked a fit of laughter that quickly spiraled out of control.
Arthur made a comment to his wife about the absurdly high prices, and his laughter grew more intense. Unable to stop, he eventually collapsed and died. The cause of death was listed as heart failure brought on by uncontrollable laughter.
1. A Cinematic Fatality
In 1989, Ole Bentzen, a Danish doctor reportedly in excellent health, went to see a film. The movie he picked was *A Fish Called Wanda*, a quirky, Monty Python-inspired comedy starring Jamie Lee Curtis and a few of the original Pythons.
During a scene where Kevin Kline shoves French fries up Michael Palin’s nose, Bentzen began laughing uncontrollably. It reminded him of a time when his whole family, sitting at the dinner table, stuck cauliflower up their noses. (Isn’t that something every family does?)
Bentzen’s heart rate allegedly soared to between 250 and 500 beats per minute, leading to a heart attack. His assistant, who had accompanied him, recalled being shocked by his sudden laughter, perhaps because talking in a cinema is generally frowned upon—or because he was no longer alive.
