Science is a cruel mistress. There is very little reward for attempting to achieve something impossible and failing, and very little recognition when you eventually do succeed. It is one of those rare professions where one can lose their life in pursuit of a greater cause, but this has never deterred scientists across generations. There have been numerous inventors who have attempted to bring their ideas to life and have lost their lives in the process. This list includes those inventors who lost their lives due to their own inventions.
5. Sieur Freminet
French inventor Sieur Freminet came up with a genius idea of creating a re-breathing device for scuba diving. Unfortunately, his first prototype was of very poor quality and he ended up dying after using it for 20 minutes.
4. Otto Lilienthal
4. Otto Lilienthal
Being a pioneer in the aviation industry must have been one of the most challenging, nerve-wrecking, yet deeply satisfying experiences in history. Otto Lilienthal, a German engineer came face to face with the joys and pitfalls of flying when he was testing his hang glider in the Rhinow Hills in Germany. His first flight was a success and he managed to travel a distance of 250 meters. Unfortunately, during his fourth test, his glider stalled and he died after falling from a height of 15 meters.
3. Michael Dacre
3. Michael Dacre
British aviation pioneer and entrepreneur Michael Dacre was testing out a plane for his company Avcen Ltd. The company was attempting to commercialize the concept of ‘flying taxis’. Unfortunately for Michael, his plane plummeted to the ground about 150 miles north of Kuala Lumpur and he died instantly.
2. Aurel Vlaicu
2. Aurel Vlaicu
Romanian engineer Aurel Vlaicu died while attempting something truly amazing. He built his own plane, which during 1913 is an astounding feat, and then tried to become the first person to fly across the Carpathian Mountains. Unfortunately the journey didn’t go well and he died while crossing the mountains.
1. Karel Soucek
1. Karel Soucek
Karel Soucek was a renowned Canadian professional stuntman who became famous around the world for building ‘the capsule’ and riding inside it while tumbling through the Niagara falls. Shockingly enough, that stunt only injured him. What killed him was an attempt to fall down from the Houston Astrodome in a barrel from a height of 180 feet using the momentum from a man-made waterfall.
