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Sometimes, the line between life and death is so thin, luck is people’s only friend survival-wise. It doesn’t really help if said person also tends to make poor choices in life, but there is also a point where people start thinking they just naturally draw misfortune, but I digress.

And, sometimes, people share these stories in a viral Reddit thread asking people to share the stupidest ways they almost kicked the bucket, whether it’s stupid because of their own choices, or stupid because the circumstances and the chain of events were caused by stupidity.

Speaking of which, there’s a Reddit thread where people are sharing stories of how they almost died, all thanks to varying degrees of stupidity. It got 41,200 upvotes and people’s engagement went over 18,500 comments.

Bored Panda collected the best stories and responses and made a curated list for y’all, so scroll down and enjoy. Oh, and don’t forget to comment and all that jazz.

More Info: Reddit

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Went to go visit a friend in Gloucester Mass in winter back in high school far from my home. I was planning on staying overnight at their house but their mother who I now know has mental health problems wouldn’t even let me in the house because the father "wasn’t home" working a night shift. Friend said sorry bro and closed the door. Almost froze to death waiting outside in 10 degree F at night. A cab driver saw me slumped on a bench and woke me up. Let me get warm and drive around in the passenger seat while he picked up drunk people out on the town all night. When he finished his shift he dropped me off at the train station and handed me 7 bucks for the fare. Dude probably saved my life and I can’t even remember his name.

kdubbsd , Brian Report

Final score:
407points
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#2

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I walked into a back room freezer of a grocery store. The huge door was designed to close automatically. I knew this and went in and did what I was there to do. After 30 seconds, I couldn’t catch my breath. I thought maybe I was just working to hard so I stopped and took several huge breaths, nothing. I felt like I was drowning out of water. I had to move as quickly as I could back outside of the freezer and feel to my knees gasping when I got out. It was only afterwards I realized for some dumb reason someone kept open dry ice in a cart inside of the freezer.

Dry ice removes oxygen out of the air in enclosed spaces. I almost died from lack of oxygen and would have been an icicle when they found me.

Don’t f**k with dry ice.

bdx22 , Dakil Auctioneers Report

Final score:
316points
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Kit Warren
Kit Warren
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first, I was thinking that the freezer was airtight for some strange reason

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#3

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Being sleepy on the road. Don't. Find a spot and sleep a bit.

Seriously, it happened to me twice. You think you won't fall asleep, but you will.

taioshin14 , Dave Gingrich Report

Final score:
247points
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Claire Stanfield
Claire Stanfield
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have blacked out while driving tired before. Don't do it. You seriously may not remember falling asleep, it's terrifying.

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#4

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Went to Grand Canyon and tried to be funny and acted like I was gonna slip,[it was snowing], and ended up almost really slipping and falling. Some random guy scolded me like a little kid because he got more scared than me.

gee_west , Mark Collins Report

Final score:
235points
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Abdul Rahman Falih
Abdul Rahman Falih
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

bruh once I saw a woman sitting on the edge of a cliff, like a bruh I was scared AF, how can people be that riskyyyy??

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#5

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Waited too long to go to the hospital (pre-Covid) I thought I just had a cold. Husband said, go to the doctor. I said no. Three days later, still not great. Husband said, go to urgent care. I said I will if I don't feel better tomorrow. Next day, I tell husband, I need to go to the ER. A collapsed lung due to pneumonia.Three days in hospital plus breathing issues for the next year. Moral: Listen to your spouse. And yeah, got a whole lot of "I told you so"s. Deserved every one of them.

susgrigs , Shannon Report

Final score:
219points
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Who Panda 420
Who Panda 420
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know sometimes I don't want to go for help because I'm afraid of how they might react. There's been times I went in for a massive migraine I had for 3 days it was making me throw up in the emergency room doctor made me feel like crap. He said I have an emergency coming in from an automobile crash and you want me to pay attention to your migraine? It sucks I've had a couple stories like that so I tend to not want to go for help when I might really need it. That doctor didn't do anything for me and eventually the headache got better but it could have been a brain aneurysm or anything.

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#6

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I snorkelled too far out into the ocean, and it wasn't because it was a riptide, I just got distracted by pretty fish

disneyisinatlantis , Shriram Rajagopalan Report

Final score:
198points
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May
May
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've done this, been distracted by pretty fish, I mean - lost my snorkelling party. Close to shore though, so not in danger

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#7

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Stuck my head out the car window bc I wanted to see why dogs loved it. My grandpa didnt notice, rolled up the window, and I choked. He freaked out when he heard the cat like noises (ironic) I was making while my neck was trying to squeeze through the small opening of the window, but kept raising the window in his panic. Eventually he got it and I was left with a red mark on my neck and no closer to understanding dogs.

My grandpa passed earlier this year so its a nice way to remember him and I know he' get a chuckle to know people found it funny.

it was meant to be funny so dont feel bad for laughing. My lil sis was in the seat next to me when this happened and she was laughing too, funny then, funny now.

guppied , Shadman Samee Report

Final score:
193points
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Abdul Rahman Falih
Abdul Rahman Falih
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG this happened way back in 2011 to me, I came from a picnic with my friend rolled up to say goodbye to them from the car, AND GOSH I thought I would be dead as my father started rolling up the window, FREKIN choking, thank god I'm still alive

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#8

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, I was getting off the school bus and was walking around to the other side to my driveway. Suddenly the bus driver hits the horn, scared the hell out of me and I stopped at the edge of the front of a bus and a dump truck good speeding around. I dunno if the dump truck driver didn't see the lights of the bus or whatever but that driver made a dumb mistake that could have cost me my life. Thinking about it my older sister was up at our driveway waiting for me, probably would have messed her up for life

After that the school district changed bus routes to avoid students having to cross the road to get on or off the bus

Psyco_diver , JohnPickenPhoto Report

Final score:
190points
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Kit Warren
Kit Warren
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Glad the bus driver was paying attention to the traffic! And hopefully reported the dump truck!!

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#9

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I almost drowned in the sea as a kid. A current pushed me away from the shore. Lifeguards saved me and were slapping my face. I thought it was a punishment but they were resuscitating me.

aceh40 , Daniela Report

Final score:
160points
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#10

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I commented on a controversial post on reddit

guster09 , Jeff Keacher Report

Final score:
157points
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#11

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Started hiccuping with peanut butter in my mouth. Peanut butter went down the wrong tube, I started choking, but couldn’t cough bc these hiccups wouldn’t f**king stop. Finally leaned over and managed to cough it out, but it was a close call

BalaTheTravelDweller , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:
155points
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#12

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online While drunk, I sat down outside...to rest for a moment...on a freezing cold Winter's night. Fortunately, a passerby noticed me and encouraged me to get inside. I figure I was probably there dozing for several minutes.

humorous_anecdote , frankieleon Report

Final score:
153points
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Is Be
Is Be
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes if you see a person passed out in bad weather please do not leave them to die.

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#13

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Taking apart a dryer completely to clean it out and get it running smoothly again, dropped a screwdriver onto an exposed wire… huge arc and zap sound. I had left it plugged in (up until I realized the incredibly smooth-brained move I had pulled)

gijoey959 , HomeSpot HQ Report

Final score:
153points
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Mickipickie
Mickipickie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smooth-brained! My new favorite phrase! Thank you very much!

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#14

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Smoked cigarettes for 23 years. Had a heart attack at 39. Pretty f**kin' stupid if you ask me.

Siray , Rick Kimpel Report

Final score:
151points
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D20 Games
D20 Games
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I started smoking cigarettes at 16 to cover up the smell of the pot I was also smoking. I didn't want my parents to find out about the pot. I didn't care about the cigarettes. I had a close friend who smoked. I could pass the smell off as being near him. I still smoke cigarettes, don't smoke pot anymore. I've tried a couple times to quit, but then some douchebag at work, or in public in general does something beyond my tolerance level. Cigarettes are cheaper than murder.

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#15

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I'm Italian but have been living in the UK for two years

Guess who looked at the wrong side of the road while a Bus was coming trough?

Everytime I went back to Italy I risked my life for the same reason by getting used to drive to the left and viceversa

Pellem01 , sammydavisdog Report

Final score:
125points
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Phyzzi
Phyzzi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My family (US) rented a car to drive in Ireland. My dad ended the trip with "that trip was fun but I am never driving here again"

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#16

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Swam under a shipyard pier at night (solid concrete above me) and lost my sense of direction. Got lucky and found my way out.

To add more detail - A friend and I were "assault swimmers" attacking a ship for a training exercise at night. We would swim from pier pylon to pylon underwater. Take a breath, go under, push off, and swim ~20' to the next pylon, surface and repeat. My mask broke and I was doing it with my eyes closed due to having contacts at the time. One time I just kept swimming and felt like I missed the pylon. When I went to slowly broach the surface I found myself under the concrete above. I had no idea the pier was even built like that. Put my hands up and oriented myself. It looked dark in all directions but my gut told me to the right is where I came from. After that, I stayed on the surface! Cheers!

bomb-diggity-sailor , Massachusetts Office of Travel Report

Final score:
124points
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#17

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I stuck my head in a random beaker to sniff something in chem lab, I have been very good about wafting since

plrbear237 , Alabama Extension Report

Final score:
122points
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Nathaniel
Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the joke "Can you smell the chloroform on this rag?"

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#18

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Came very close (about two inches) to backing into a warehouse rack full of two ton coils of sheet metal when I didn't realise that my forklift was in reverse.

seefith , Darren Moloney Report

Final score:
104points
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#19

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Literally today, getting undressed to shower and as my pants fell to my ankles I went to step out of them and tripped, almost walloped my head on the sink

HybridPacman , smalljude Report

Final score:
104points
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Sheyanne Valiante
Sheyanne Valiante
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was little I was flipping my hair over to wrap it in an towel and bashed my forehead on the sink

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#20

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Unplugging the washing machine with wet hands. My hand slipped onto the prongs while they were still partially in the outlet, and I think my heart stopped for a second before I yanked the plug free. Definitely do not recommend.

pseudosiren , Dejan Krsmanovic Report

Final score:
102points
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Phyzzi
Phyzzi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was removing a dishwasher at the grandparents house when they were about to move in with my folks, had flipped the labeled breaker, and was trying to be careful of wires, but it's a dishwasher so there was water. Figured out I had not managed to turn off the power correctly when the whole right side of my body went tense and tingly. After that, we shut off power to the whole house until the job was done.

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#21

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Drove on an interstate during a hurricane and watched all the cars around me get submerged

Soft-Caterpillar-618 , Meg Cheng Report

Final score:
99points
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Gladys Hayes Southerland
Gladys Hayes Southerland
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dumb like me... Drove home thru a major storm, going "Wow! Why's it so dark at 2.30? Look at that tree that fell on that roof... One tree on top of that car... Those signs rolling down the street... Another tree & roof combo. No street or traffic lights working." When l got home, turned on the news, it was a 🌪️that came thru just minutes before me.

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#22

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Grown adult and choked on mozzarella cheese. Was only alone for 20 minutes. Can't imagine the obituary

[deleted] , Amy Ross Report

Final score:
99points
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Nathaniel
Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone sees you lying there and tries to help. "Breathe Edam it!"

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#23

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Fell through the ice. The great lakes freeze partially in the winter. Far out there was an ice ridge, and on the other side was this clear glassy ice as far out as I could see. I climbed over the ridge to take a leak in privacy, but it wasn't solid. Went through. Wife had to put down our first infant son to fish me out.

Ferreteria , robin_ottawa Report

Final score:
99points
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Joi Cain
Joi Cain
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought this would've been a kid. No. A grown a** man. Married. With a child. SMH.

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#24

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I was very small (probably around 5) and when my mum wasn’t looking I tied some clothes around my neck and hooked it to the stair railings, then tried to jump off the railings to see if they would hold me. Fortunately I was too small to climb over the railings and my mum found me before I would’ve jumped.

Groundbreaking_Roll9 , Mark Pilgrim Report

Final score:
99points
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Abdul Rahman Falih
Abdul Rahman Falih
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

bruh if he died what would the cops think, do u think they would believe the mother?

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#25

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Yelling at someone in the hood, they tried to run me over with their car and then got out and chased me

Other-Image , swruler9284 Report

Final score:
96points
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LaToya Mack
LaToya Mack
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t know if it’s Covid but you should just assume everyone is having a bad day and they are all armed.

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#26

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Choked on a small potato at the Pizza Hut salad bar. Completely lodged in my throat. I raced to the loo and shoved my fingers down my throat, and it popped out. Walked back to my table and finished my salad. I was with my boyfriend. He did nothing. I grabbed the waitress’s arm. All she did was say “is she okay?” to my boyfriend. Hence running to the loo to deal with it myself!!

ScarlettWilson13 , lisaclarke Report

Final score:
95points
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#27

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Choked on a life saver

No the hole In the center is not for breathing. Life Savers have holes in them because the inventor, Clarence Crace wanted to create a unique candy. Back in 1912 (109 years ago)

ZeSavageCabbage , rashida s. mar b. Report

Final score:
78points
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Bernadette Macias
Bernadette Macias
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2 years ago

Only 18 pieces in a Lifesaver Storybook?! That's a paragraph, not a story. They originally contained 10 full rolls, each roll a different variety, 10 pieces per roll.

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#28

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Choked on a hamburger in 8th grade beside my old friend who was too busy flirting until someone else saved me

cjr11000 , Karl Baron Report

Final score:
73points
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#29

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Almost got my head squashed by a car due to a small pebble making me fall on the main road

KingFisher0424 , Nicoleta Craciun Report

Final score:
71points
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#30

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online I let my anger get the best of me and DID NOT hold the piece of wood against the mitre saw wall. (For those that don't know if you don't do that it will without fail take the wood and catch it on one of the blade parts sending you into it with the wood)

-Camron- , Ivan Radic Report

Final score:
70points
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Phyzzi
Phyzzi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I learned from my dad that saws are scary and need to be respected as dangerous at all times. He learned from almost loosing three fingers (they had to be mostly reattached).

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#31

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Climbed into one of those power supply units, that supply power to the whole road, whilst retrieving a ball.

gliitch0xFF , Steve Knight Report

Final score:
60points
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Phyzzi
Phyzzi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Friend of the family managed to grab a high voltage line while trimming a tree, fortunately hitting the ground apparently restarted his heart. I would say he's fine several decades later but I have heard him pun before he was even awake enough to open his eyes, so the jury is still out.

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#32

32 Folks Who Could Have Met Their End Due To Their Own Stupidity, As Shared Online Crashed my bike into a parked car

cutiegirl88 , Conal Gallagher Report

Final score:
36points
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