Nought as queer as folk: five of the strangest accidents

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Whether at home or at work, there are numerous situations when accidents can occur. Thankfully, the majority of these are mild – but that doesn’t mean more serious consequences are eliminated altogether.

Slips and trips, one of the most common causes of accident both in and outside of the workplace, can cause both minor and severe injuries. Yet, it is not just these common sources of accidents at work which present potential dangers to the public and some accidents are just downright bizarre.

To highlight the diversity of situations when accidents can occur and claims can be made, here are just five of the strangest accidents we found:

1. Man nearly walks into bear

For the modern generation, personal electronics such as mobile phones and computer tablets are must-have gadgets. Whilst they are intended to enhance most aspects of our live, sometimes their influence can have surprisingly negative results – as one man in California discovered.

The gentleman absentmindedly walked down the road whilst composing a text and was so distracted by his mobile phone that he almost walked directly into a live bear which was roaming the neighbourhood! Thankfully, the man looked up in time to spot the danger and escaped with no physical injuries.

2. P.E teacher struck by lightning

All jobs come with their fair share of risks and the physical activity involved with teaching P.E may make these individuals more susceptible to injury. However, whilst P.E teachers might expect the odd strain or sprain they are unlikely to identify getting struck by lightning as a potential risk. However, this is exactly what happened to one teacher and, the strangest thing about the situation, is they weren’t even outside at the time. In fact, they were sat in their classroom.

3. Drowning in beer

Strange accidents have something of a long history – with records of bizarre injuries dating back as far as the 1800s. In fact, it was in 1814 that a total of 8 people drowned in beer after a vat burst open in a London brewery. The ensuing gush of liquid caused yet another vat to open, resulting in a total of 550,000 gallons flooding the streets. On top of the 8 individuals who lost their lives by drowning, another died from alcohol poisoning.

4. Flying bouncing castle

Returning to the present day, a freak accident in 2006 saw 13 people injured and 2 killed after a bouncy castle broke free in a strong gust of wind. The inflatable castle rose 50 feet into the air and covered a distance of 150 feet, turning over whilst airborne, before returning to the ground. A total of 30 people were onboard at the time.

5. Camel causes car accident

Taking place in New Jersey, this unfortunate accident saw a gentleman die in a car accident after striking a camel that was crossing the road. The man’s car burst into flame following the incident which also resulted in the unfortunate death of the camel. A fence was erected in the aftermath to prevent crossing animals from posing such risks in the future.

For those who have sustained injuries as a result of an accident, whether ordinary or bizarre, it is important that the necessary action is taken. This means speaking to experts at Edwards Hoyle.co.uk about compensation entitlement and employing new procedures which aim to prevent similar accidents occurring in the future.