5 Strange Water-Related Fatalities

Water, commonly known as "the essence of life," is ubiquitous and integral to all living things. However, it can also be deadly and hosts dangerous marine creatures. Sharks are often feared as ruthless predators, though their reputation is exaggerated. Surprisingly, some of the most peculiar water-related deaths don’t involve sharks or their teeth. Health, curiosity, and dedication to work can turn fatal near water. Even water-based vacations can prove perilous.

Labeling water as "the essence of death" wouldn’t encourage hydration or appreciation for aquatic wonders. In truth, many water-related deaths are exceptionally rare. Most people manage to stay safe and avoid aquatic dangers daily, but unexpected threats like a small amount of water, a massive tank, or even pirates can turn deadly in an instant.

Life is invaluable, and water is essential to life. With reverence for its wonders, we can also reflect on the unpredictability of these five extraordinary aquatic fatalities.

5: Death by Swimming

Drowning incidents are often reported, especially during summer, but fatalities caused by forced swimming are unusual. In 2009, a woman in her 30s from Ohio was imprisoned for four years after compelling her 73-year-old husband to swim endless laps in their apartment pool until he suffered a heart attack and passed away. Surveillance footage showed her repeatedly preventing him from exiting the pool and urging him to continue, despite allegedly being aware of his severe heart condition. Without audio evidence of the event, she was convicted of reckless homicide instead of first-degree murder [source: Kropko].

Less sensational but equally rare swimming-related deaths occur during international triathlons. From 2006 to 2008, 14 triathletes died during competitions, with 13 deaths happening during the swimming segment. In the 2012 New York City triathlon, two competitors died while swimming. Research from the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that most of these deaths are linked to undiagnosed heart conditions in otherwise fit athletes [source: Klein].

4: Fatal Excursions

"Three-hour tours," plane crashes on picturesque islands, and luxury yacht escapades often unfold on TV and in movies, with a few casualties and a dramatic rescue to wrap up the plot. In reality, however, some deaths are so bizarre and tragic that they lack any semblance of a happy ending. One such incident in 1998 was so shocking that it inspired the film "Open Water."

Tom and Eileen Lonergan, an adventurous American couple, had traveled the world, served in the Peace Corps, and were enjoying a dive in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Tragically, they were left behind at their dive site and never recovered. When the charter crew noticed their gear still on board and realized they were missing, it was too late. Their bodies were never found, though some belongings believed to be theirs washed ashore [source: Fickling].

In 2011, two American couples embarked on a global sailing adventure, but their journey was cut short by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Despite U.S. military efforts to negotiate, all four were killed. Piracy is on the rise, and the pirate leader involved chillingly stated, "I lost my investment and my comrades. No forgiveness for the Americans. Revenge. Our business will continue" [source: NBC]. Such maritime tragedies may become less rare in the future.

3: Unpredictable Waters

Picture yourself stuck in downtown traffic in a bustling city, heading home from work, when suddenly your car, with you and your family inside, is engulfed by water. This tragic scenario unfolded in Pittsburgh, Pa., when the city’s stormwater system failed under the pressure of incoming water, sweeping four people to their deaths in the overwhelming surge [source: Maher]. Surprisingly, flash floods and floods are deadlier annually than lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and windstorms, with approximately 60 percent of flood-related deaths occurring when people are trapped in their vehicles [source: Cappella].

Many survive storms, floods, and other natural disasters only to perish in the aftermath. Hurricane Irene struck the U.S. East Coast in 2011, causing less damage than expected in areas like New York City. However, some fatalities occurred when individuals ventured out in canoes to inspect the damage, only to be swept away or crushed by sudden torrents or rising water levels that smashed boats against bridges. Each post-storm period reveals stories of survivors who meet unusual fates while surveying the destruction [source: Kleinfield].

Globally, the 2011 floods in the Philippines and Thailand, though not an uncommon natural disaster, struck unexpectedly and claimed approximately 1,249 and 780 lives, respectively [source: Associated Press]. While not unusual in nature, the death toll was undeniably staggering.

2: For Love of Animals

Since 1890, only 17 people have died from stingray injuries, one of whom was the beloved TV star and animal advocate Steve Irwin, celebrated as the Crocodile Hunter on the Discovery Channel. At 44, Irwin was fatally struck in the chest by a stingray’s tail while filming an underwater scene in 2006. The incident was captured on camera [source: USA Today]. After a lifetime of handling alligators and embracing daring exploits, his unexpected death occurred in an extraordinary manner while standing in shallow water.

Another passionate animal lover, 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau, was less renowned but worked as an animal trainer at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. Her tragic death in 2010 occurred after she accidentally slipped and fell into the tank of the whales she trained daily. On that fateful day, Tillikum, an orca whale, unexpectedly attacked her, violently shaking and submerging her underwater with such force that she drowned [source: CNN].

1: Water Intoxication

While many water-related deaths involve vast amounts of water overwhelming the victim, even small quantities can be deadly if consumed excessively. In 2007, Jennifer Strange, a young mother of three, participated in a California radio contest to win a Nintendo gaming system for her family. The "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" challenge required contestants to drink large amounts of water without urinating, with the last person remaining winning the prize. Tragically, as some athletes and marathon runners have discovered, excessive water intake can lead to fatal water intoxication, or overhydration, causing cerebral edema, a dangerous brain swelling.

During the contest, listeners called the radio station to warn about the dangers of water intoxication, but the competition continued. Strange placed second and returned home, only to die hours later. Her family later secured a $16.5 million wrongful death settlement [sources: Associated Press; Clarke and McHugh].