List of people who were decapitated explained

The following is a list of people who were decapitated, arranged alphabetically by country or region and with date of decapitation. These individuals lost their heads accidentally. This includes animal-related deaths. A list of people who lost their heads through execution or murder can be found at List of people who were beheaded.

Australia

• Shirley Ann Durdin (1985) – Durdin was decapitated by a great white shark while snorkeling in Port Lincoln, South Australia; she was eaten alive^{[1] [2]}
• Kerry McLoughlin (1987) – Decapitated by a saltwater crocodile at Cahills Crossing, Northern Territory^[3]

Argentina

• Oscar Lofeudo (1998) – Decapitated in a TC pre-race qualifying in Rafaela circuit; Lofeudo was then co-driver along with Raúl Petrich (driver who also died).
• Daniel Ponce (2001) – Decapitated in a pick-up race, in San Martín, Mendoza.
• Matías Viapiano (2003) – Decapitated in a karting race in Estación Aráoz, Tucumán.^[4]

Chile

• José Larenas (1980) – decapitated by a great white shark.^[5]

France

• Jean Larivière (1951) – decapitated in racing car crash in the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Gerry Birrell (1973) – decapitated in racing car crash

Germany

Modern Germany

• Csaba Kesjár (1988) - decapitated in a German Formula 3 race, at the Norisring.

Great Britain

• Hon. Henry William John, later 4th Earl of Strafford (1899) – decapitated by a train at Potters Bar railway station^[6]
• Donald Campbell (1967) – decapitated in crash of his hydroplane Bluebird K7 during world water speed record attempt in Coniston Water.

Netherlands/Belgium

• Chris Bristow (1960) – decapitated in racing car crash in the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix.
• Alain Vincx (1987) – decapitated in car racing stunt challenge at Zandvoort Circuit.^{[7] [8]}

Palestine

• Ismail al-Ghoul (2024) - decapitated by Israeli airstrike.^[9]

Papua New Guinea

• Melas Mero (2014) – decapitated by a saltwater crocodile^[10]

Philippines

• Unnamed girl (2009) – decapitated by a saltwater crocodile^[11]

Portugal

• Paulo Jorge Caracitas (2000) – decapitated while kart racing, when the scarf he was using got stuck in the drive shaft.^[12]

Romania

• Nicolae Labiș (1956) – fell off of a tram while going to a friend's house and was decapitated when his head hit the pavement between the two trams in University Square, Bucharest.

United States

• Tom Ketchum (1901) – accidentally decapitated in New Mexico Territory in botched hanging for train robbery
• Eva Dugan (1930) – decapitated in botched hanging for murder
• Denny Keith (1964) – decapitated in racing car crash
• Charles Bassett (1966) – decapitated in crash of T-38 jet aircraft^[13]
• Les Ritchey (1966) – decapitated in drag racing crash
• Ken Kotalac (1969) – decapitated in drag bike racing crash
• Rocky Marciano (1969) – decapitated when his airplane crashed
• François Cevert (1973) – cut in half in racing car crash at Watkins Glen International
• Helmuth Koinigg (1974) – decapitated in racing car crash in the 1974 United States Grand Prix
• Vic Morrow and Myca Dinh Le (1982) – decapitated by crashing helicopter during film shoot for
• 3 members of the crew of Piper PA-28-181 Archer at the Cerritos mid-air collision (1986)
• Doug Vermeer (1987) – decapitated in car racing crash
• Jim Brouk (1990) – decapitated in car racing crash
• Randy Hill (1993) – decapitated in stunt car challenge; in a botched attempt at a mid-air collision, Hill's car was too low, its roof was sheared off, and Hill's head was crushed.^[14]
• Russell Phillips (1995) – decapitated in racing car crash at Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Eldon Hoke (1997) – decapitated by a train
• Randy Fry (2004) – decapitated by a great white shark^[15]
• Robert Lees (2004) – decapitated by murderer
• Katie Flynn (2005) – decapitated in car crash^[16]
• Asia Leeshawn Ferguson (2008) – decapitated after being struck by the roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia
• Caleb Schwab (2016) – Caleb, the 10-year-old son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, was decapitated while sliding down the world's tallest water slide (Verrückt) at Schlitterbahn Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas.^{[17] [18]}

References

1. Web site: Most Horrifying Shark Attacks in History – TomorroWoman. 6 November 2016. 25 February 2017.
2. Web site: World's 10 worst shark attacks. 25 February 2017.
3. Web site: Man taken by croc while standing in boat. 8 June 2014. www.ntnews.com.au.
4. Web site: A Driver Dies in a Terrible Accident. Drama in Estación Aráoz.. La Gaceta.
5. Web site: Miranda . sharkattackfile.net . 1980 . 2020-05-02.
6. News: Earl of Strafford Killed; Decapitated by an Express Train at a Railroad. 17 May 1899. The New York Times. 8 May 2010.
7. Web site: Deadly accident Alain Vincx on 25th of may 1987 . . en . 2022-08-09.
8. Web site: Redactie . Belga . 2020-12-09 . Lichaam van stuntman opgegraven in onderzoek naar Bende van Nijvel . 2022-08-09 . De Morgen . nl-NL.
9. Web site: Knell . Yolande . Al Jazeera rebuffs Israeli claim killed journalist was Hamas operative . bbc.com . BBC . 4 August 2024.
10. News: Boy, 11, eaten by crocodile in Papua New Guinea. the ffleetGuardian. 14 May 2014 . 20 December 2014. Agence France-Presse .
11. Web site: - ABS-CBN News. 25 February 2017.
12. Web site: Karting: Morte de um jovem choca amantes da modalidade - Modalidades - Jornal Record .
13. Web site: "A Bad Call": The Accident Which Almost Lost Project Gemini . Evans . Ben . AmericaSpace . March 5, 2012 . July 20, 2020 . September 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200930092429/https://www.americaspace.com/2012/03/05/a-bad-call-the-accident-which-almost-lost-project-gemini/ . live.
14. News: Stunt Cars Collide At Wrong Angle; Driver Killed . November 15, 1993 . . AP.
15. Web site: 5. Randy Fry . . 2 May 2008 . 20 December 2014.
16. News: THE ISLAND – A Wedding, A Crash, A Family's Pain . . 1 October 2006 . 20 December 2014.
17. Web site: Source: Boy who died at Schlitterbahn was decapitated . 25 February 2017.
18. Web site: World's Tallest Waterslide To Be Demolished After Boy's Death . . 25 February 2017.