Although death is inevitable, it is still shocking and devastating, especially when it happens to someone you love. The most you could hope for is that it is quick and painless, and that the person has a long and happy life before they have to leave.
We have all lost someone we know or love. It’s part of life. But have you ever witnessed it first hand? There is nothing worse than watching someone slowly perish, and feeling helpless, because there is nothing you can do.
The following 19 people witnessed someone die. Whether it was someone they knew, loved, or just a stranger, it was still a heartbreaking moment that they will never forget, as hard as they may try. We mourn for the death of people lost too soon, and hope that these people are able to move on with their lives as best as they are able.
These 19 people saw someone die right before their eyes:
1.
I lived on a busy street when I was 15, and there was a car chase between a drunk driver and a cop one night. The drunk driver ran into the stop light pole and was decapitated. I saw the head in the middle of the street from about 100 feet away.
2.
My father was abusive towards my mother. One day he kicked my 2 younger brothers & I outside while he & my mother had a talk. We heard a scream from inside, but the door was locked. We tossed my youngest brother through the small kitchen window & he found my father choking my mother. He punched him in the face & broke his nose, but that gave my mother the chance to try & break free. He threw my brother against a wall, & then my brother went back upstairs to let us in. He then started to call the police. I went downstairs & saw them struggling. I saw the scene unfold in my driveway. My father on top of my mother stabbing her. Cops came & one jumped out, drew his weapon & shot him in the chest. Neither of them made it.
3.
One late night in the winter last year, we were transporting a 6 month old that had experienced respiratory arrest from RSV from a rural hospital to a children’s hospital. Along the way, things went downhill and the baby ended up in cardiac arrest. This was still 20 minutes out from the children’s hospital. We worked SO hard and got a pulse back, but just as we pulled up to the ER doors, we lost it again.
4.
I was in Czech republic & living in a dormitory. One night I was was watching a film with a girl in her dorm room which was on the 3rd floor of 5. During the movie, we heard a muffled cry, and then saw a body fall quickly passed our balcony window and then a loud “thump”. I ran so fast out of the room and down the stairs towards the courtyard and managed to shout to the front desk lady in broken Czech to call an ambulance. I made it out to the courtyard moments later to find one of my classmates, a guy from Slovakia, lying on his side, breathing in short, frenzied gasps, with blood leaking from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. I was scared to roll him over as I was sure his back and/or neck was broken, so I just sat with him talking to him, rubbing his arm and forehead and telling him that I would stay with him and help was on the way. The ambulance arrived about 7 minutes later, but he had died a few minutes before looking right at me with the most terrified and pained expression I have ever seen.
Alex is a New Yorker currently living in Austin. She loves cats, grass, and latex but unfortunately is allergic to all 3. She makes mom and dad jokes more than she cares to admit (jk she'll admit it loud and proud). She isn't as funny as she thinks she is. She is the founder of thelazygurl.com.
