People hope never to run into a terrifying moment in their lives. However, sometimes things just go wrong, no matter what the plan was. Whether it was a moment of panic or something seriously life-threatening, these 50 Redditors share times they thought they were done for!
1. Out Of Control
I was traveling in an SUV when the brakes abruptly stopped functioning. We all had a split second to realize that this situation was going to end up in catastrophe. Having that realization was much more terrifying than an unexpected car crash. My outcome? I crashed into a retaining wall, lodging the SUV vertically between a wall and a utility pole.
It was fortunate that the poles didn't slice off the SUV's top because it could have plummeted straight onto the front passengers. But the most intense moment came soon after—it was when I noticed the driver veering unpredictably and pushing speed limits. I was alarmed and asked, "Hey, what's happening up there?" His chilling reply was simple, "The brakes aren't working".
As a reaction, I checked my seat belt to ensure it was fastened, braced myself against the seat in front of me, and steeled myself for the imminent wreckage.
2. The Lifesaver
While eating, I found myself choking and struggling to breathe. I soon realized that a sizable piece of food was stuck in my throat. No matter how much I tried, it wouldn't budge. Feeling light-headed, time seemed to slow down. The thought crossed my mind—it was an embarrassing situation and the last thing I wanted was for my little one to witness it.
I was in the process of dialing 911 when my hero, my husband, stepped in and commenced providing first aid. Thanks to him, the food dislodged and I began to throw up all over the place. It was a really intense experience. Despite the successful removal, I took the precaution of seeing a doctor to ensure my lungs were clear. I was feeling dizzy and my throat was severely irritated hours after the incident. It took a day or so to recover fully. My husband was my knight in shining armor – he definitely saved my life!
3. Out Of A Job?
Half a year into our marriage, my wife suggested she'd like to leave her job to concentrate on her accountant exams. I told her I was okay with this and would take care of her expenses while she studied. But a week later, she changed her mind because her office proposed she stick around part time while still earning her regular full salary. This felt like a lucky break, and I thought we had hit a sweet spot.
Eight months into our life as a married couple, I returned home from another typical day at the office. The first thing my wife proclaimed was,"I hope I don't cheat on you." At this moment, I realized our relationship wasn't what I imagined it to be.
Heads up: It turns out she was secretly seeing a married coworker whom she had never before mentioned. They confessed their love upon her resignation, which led to her part-time setup. Conveniently, he visited our town once or twice a month for a week, paid for by the company.
You can probably fill in the rest. We would have celebrated our five-year anniversary next month. I miss the woman I thought was not only my wife but also my best friend.
4. A Watery Terror
My buddy and I were driving around the backroads just outside our town about a quarter-century ago, just a couple of teens on a regular school night with nothing special planned. Our journey took a turn when we ended up on an unfamiliar road heading back home. The darkness was the only thing we could see when suddenly the road stopped—this marked the start of our horrifying ordeal.
Our truck took a tumble into a canal. The pace wasn't too fast and we had our seatbelts on so we didn't feel overly concerned at first. Yes, we were upside down, but we felt fine. We started to unbuckle our seatbelts and tried to find an exit through a window or door. The vast darkness consumed us while we were submerged in about eight feet of water. I started searching for a way to open the mistakenly inverted door.
Everything was out of order, leading to confusion. I couldn't force the door to open, The space inside the truck continued filling with water and that's when panic started to take hold. The stubborn door wouldn't move. I scrambled to locate the window lever. The water level was climbing rapidly. All I could think to myself was: Is this it? I am only 17. A dual state of mind began to surface, part of me freaking out as the water intensified, and part accepting this might be my final moment.
Just when the thought of drowning started to become a reality as I started my junior year of high school, the water reached up to my neck. The relentless door wouldn't budge but then I heard my friend shouting "I've managed to open my window! We need to get out now!" By then, the water had nearly filled the entire truck. I made a quick scramble towards the opened window, managed to get through it, and then swam to the embankment nearby finally catching up with my buddy. The relief was overwhelming. We had survived.
5. Just Fire Me Already
It was back in the 80s, my first day at my very first job at Apple Computer, and I was just a temp. I had admitted I didn't have any experience driving a forklift, but one of the guys was kind enough to show me how. For a practice run, he asked me to move a couple of pallets stacked with two meg profiles, each valued roughly at $2000. They were tightly packed in a confined area, so the task was a bit tricky.
I got off to a great start, managed to secure the stack without a hitch. But then disaster struck. As I started to reverse, my mind blanked out; I turned the forklift the wrong way and sent a towering wall of pallets tumbling down. We're talking about 30+ pallets, eight on each, which amounted to approximately $480k worth of product scattered across the floor.
Instantly, the place was alive with folks rushing to the site, and there I was, still astride my forklift, feeling utterly foolish. I dismounted, made my way to the boss's office, and pretty much resigned, asking him to sign off so I could make my ungraceful exit. He questioned why I was leaving, so I admitted my blunder and apologized.
He asked if it was intentional; obviously, I said no. His response? "Clean up your mess and get the units checked at QA to ensure they're not damaged". Remarkably, only two were physically damaged, but many boxes needed replacing. Yet I complied, both shocked and relieved.
At the end of the day, I tentatively asked if I'd be returning, and his reply was, "Mistakes are made by everyone. Just don't let it turn into a habit." He was, without a doubt, the best boss I've ever had. After my temp hours were up, he offered me a job. I stayed on for 15 years, they financed my college education, and I managed to earn my MBA while still working there.
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6. The Dangerous Dishes
There I was, alone at home, cleaning up after dinner when I accidentally dropped a bowl. On impulse, I tried to catch it but the bowl broke into two pieces. One half had a sharp edge that pierced my arm, severing a tendon completely. I was taken aback at the sight of the blood spurting out, something I'd never witnessed firsthand. In a panic, I yelled at Siri to dial 911.
However, it took three attempts for Siri to grasp what I was asking. By the third try, I was dangerously close to passing out on the floor, blood pooling around me. But then, I heard a knock at the door. With the last bit of strength left in me, I dragged myself to the door and unlocked it before I lost consciousness. My neighbor from downstairs had heard me screaming for Siri to call 911 and found me laying in a pool of my own blood.
He rushed me to the hospital where they tended to my wounds. The upside? The injured tendon was, as the surgeon explained, practically a 'spare part', so I didn't need any further surgery. My arm healed perfectly fine, and all's well. Definitely a bizarre incident that could have gone terribly wrong.
7. When Anxiety Attacks
Back in the day, at one of my first gigs, I clumsily managed to tip over a huge stack of alcoholic beverages. Best guess, I trashed around $10,000 worth of booze and nearly the whole lot was destroyed. I was on the floor, gasping for breath, mumbling nonsense, and freaking out. Looking back, I was most likely having a panic attack.
I was convinced I'd be handed my walking papers. My boss was visibly furious, but when he saw how badly I was losing it, I think he felt sorry for me. He told me to just be a bit more cautious in the future and didn't let me handle the pallets without someone watching over me for some time.
8. Up On The Rooftop
Our new house has a very sloping roof and it was covered in heaps of dried leaves. We were concerned that it might cause leaks if not cleaned out. My husband tried to reach the pile with a rake from a ladder, but it was too far. I thought my smaller size would help, so I decided to climb up and bring the leaves down to his reach.
I'm usually confident about my footing but underestimated the poor condition of the roof. Once I reached the leaf pile, the gravel on the roof started to crumble, and I began to slip down fast. I found myself flat on my belly, sliding, and my shoes offered no grip at all.
I knew I was in trouble. I was about to slide off the roof and land on my husband, who was below, ready to catch me. I would have trusted his strength more if we were 30 years younger and I were lighter. I had a sinking feeling that this was not going to end well.
I shouted out to God, angels, anyone, and amazingly, I came to a halt right at the edge of the roof. Then my husband, using the ladder, cautiously drew my legs towards him until I got one foot on the ladder rung. We rang a professional roofing service the next day, who came to clear the leaves and discuss replacing our roof.
9. Surprise Stunt Driving
So picture this: it's 4 in the morning and there I am, hurtling down the freeway at a good clip of 70 mph. Suddenly, a monsoon-like rainstorm hits out of the blue. Before I even have a chance to decelerate, I find myself skidding uncontrollably.
The back of my vehicle loses grip with the road and I'm spinning in full circle motion—first, doing a complete 180 and then a gigantic 360 across the central reservation. Incredibly, I don't flip the car and somehow, I manage to heave myself back on the highway.
I found myself back in my original lane, pointing the right way, and amazingly, still moving onwards. Since it was so early in the morning, I was fortunate that no other vehicles were around to get tangled up in this wild ride. The whole affair felt unreal, as if time had stretched unbearably slow. I kept thinking, if the car flips, it's curtains for me.
At the next off-ramp, I pulled over to give myself a moment. I sat there, letting the adrenaline rush ebb away, still stupefied by the unbelievable event that had just unfolded.
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10. This Is Stomach-Churning
Once I finished college in March, I was on the hunt for a job. My parents were quite upset with me since I still hadn't found a job after my studies. Three months later I managed to get hired at a chicken factory. The scent, mixed with the sight of chicken meat on a conveyor belt, was enough to make me feel sick. I desperately asked my boss for the bathroom directions before rushing off and throwing up hard.
I stared at my sick-filled toilet and thought to myself, "I can't do this anymore." Another boss helped me outside for some fresh air where I threw up once again. In a very understanding manner, they explained that it was okay, it happens, and this job just wasn't the right one for me. So, just a day after being hired, I lost my job. I couldn't help crying as I drove back home, knowing that my parents were about to give me an earful.
11. Steering The Sails
I was out on a sailing trip and thought it's worth giving my buddy a shot at steering. Boy, was I wrong.
We're both in our twenties and I've got a decent amount of sailing experience under my belt. Before I passed on the reins, I made sure to mention why the boom is no laughing matter. To those unfamiliar, it can flail unpredictably at about head height, so if you're caught off guard, it could really do some damage.
No sooner had I handed over the controls, I was still sitting in the cockpit when my buddy suddenly dropped. All I remember is the boom hurtling towards me and believing that this was the end. In some miraculous twist, I managed to twist my frame and hit the deck in time. Needless to say, the remainder of the voyage saw my buddy decidedly away from the helm.
12. Wait, There’s A Problem?
I remember being tucked inside an MRI machine when the technician abruptly shouted, "No need to fret, we're working to get you out"! I was startled and thought, “Hold on, why"?! Apparently, the computer malfunctioned, freezing the machine in its tracks. I was blind to the issue, being engulfed inside the equipment, given there are no monitor screens inside.
The technician, who was clearly upset and hadn't wrapped her head around the fact that I was clueless about the problem, jumped right into trying to soothe my concerns! All was well in the end, though. She, along with an orderly, hit the emergency release and together, they succeeded in easing me out. Yet, there was a brief, uncomfortable moment when I was unsure whether it was crisis mode time or not!
13. Swept Away
I took a trip to Thailand during the quiet season, not realizing how wild the sea gets at that time. I based myself in Phuket, expecting the tranquil, clear waters I had seen in all the travel brochures. However, the reality was a sea that was anything but calm—quite typical for the off-peak season.
There weren't many tourists, given it was the off-season. But I spotted a few brave souls venturing into the water, so I decided to join them.
Despite the red warning flags fluttering, indicating some risk, I waded into the sea. I figured I hadn't gone far when suddenly, the water was up to my neck. Then, a massive wave loomed and crashed over my head. I found myself unable to touch the seabed anymore, and before I knew what was happening, the towering waves swept me away.
In a frantic attempt to reach the shore, I surfaced, gasping for air, caught amidst the tumultuous waves, battling tirelessly to swim back. What probably lasted a minute felt like an eternity. Exhausted but relieved, I finally made it back to the shore, finding myself far from where I left my belongings. After that episode, I didn't dare venture into the sea again for the rest of my trip.
14. A Trick Visit
Not too long ago, my partner wondered if we could spare a moment to visit a friend for an hour or so on an unplanned afternoon. I had no objections, so off we went. Upon reaching, it dawned on me that this was the friend transitioning to a new apartment with a 'No Dogs' policy. This hit me the instant their lovable dachshund mix sprang into view, its tail swishing energetically, eyes beaming with affection.
The moment that dog nestled into my lap, it became clear that I'd been slyly lured into a surprise introduction with this adorable pup.
15. That’s A Lot Of Blood…
I carry a scar right over my left eye; a harsh souvenir from a nasty tumble, where I ended up crashing face-first into the corner of my staircase. Blood was everywhere, and amid the shocking sight, I remember tearfully apologizing to my mom and expressing my love for her. The events following that were like some sort of vague, foggy dream.
I can recollect bits and pieces—my mom frantically getting towels, repeatedly muttering "Oh my god" under her breath, while simultaneously trying to reassure me that I'd be alright. All the while, I was surrounded by blood-soaked tissues.
While I was semi-conscious, my brave mom managed to stitch me up, despite my constant, panicky thoughts about losing too much blood and the dangerous situation I was in. I experienced first-hand how severe and swift bleeding from head wounds can be.
The next morning when I woke up, it felt like we had just tidied up after filming an episode of CSI, given all the blood stained laundry.
Thank heavens for my mom who, with her remarkable calm in the face of my crisis, had not only managed to stop the blood loss, but also skillfully stitched me up temporarily.
16. Did I Do That?
In the past, I had an old laptop that would often overheat and shut down, especially in hot summer months. One sweltering summer evening, as I sat on our balcony, my laptop was nearing its boiling point. "It's about to quit any second now," I thought to myself. Then, things got weird. Sure enough, it eventually powered off. Strangely though, as if in unison, every light within my sight also switched off. Each house, every street lamp, all plunged into darkness.
Confused at first, it took me a moment to grasp what just happened. In that startling moment, I couldn't help but question myself... What on earth did I just cause?!
17. I Can, I Swear
Back when I was in grade school, my buddy asked me to come to her birthday bash at the pool. I fibbed and claimed I was a swimmer, all to appear cool. But guess what? She caught me off-guard and nudged me into the water. I was in pure panic, thrashing about and taking in water, though at first, she believed I was just messing around.
She dashed in and rescued my deceitful self. I felt utterly mortified. For the remainder of the party, I just sat by the poolside, while everyone else continued to enjoy the water.
18. Spinning Out
I was in the car with my boyfriend, seeing my coffee spilling in slow motion when I caught a glimpse of a shocked driver through our windshield, the one who had been tailgating us before. We were speeding onto the highway around 90 mph when the driver in our left lane slammed right into our side.
We swerved to avoid a collision and ended up spinning thrice in the middle of the highway while still moving at a frightening speed. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. As we witnessed the unfolding of events, my boyfriend calmly said, "We're done," to which I replied, "I know."
19. The Rickety Roller Coaster
I really wanted to conquer this roller coaster. It spun and twirled in all sorts of loops, and I was set on showing my courage. But things changed once I took my seat. The lap bar didn't reach me and, mind you, this ride flips over. Once it started moving, panic set in. Each time we spun upside down, I felt as if I was slipping off my seat.
One arm was gripping the lap bar while the other clung to the side of the ride. My legs ached from straining against the seat throughout the ride. The whole ordeal lasted about five minutes, and my mantra was, "Don't let go." I was certain that if I did, I'd definitely fall.
Moreover, this ride was at one of those smaller fairgrounds—not exactly the paragon of ride safety.
20. Tipping The Kayak
I had a kayaking adventure with my friends that took us miles away from any human habitation. I experienced a strong surge of water at a curve and was unbalanced. I found myself under the water, entangled in numerous roots of a tree growing from the side of a cliff. I thought I was completely trapped, but fate had other plans for me—I was able to squeeze through a small gap after several seconds, allowing me to continue my journey.
This episode really scared my friends, but I couldn't really help that.
21. A Terrible Time Travelling
I recently endured an exhausting 18-hour flight, followed by a four-hour layover before my next leg of travel. My fatigue overwhelmed me as I couldn't sleep a wink on that bumpy flight. So, I slumped into a seat near my respective gate and pulled out a small bag from my luggage holding my crucial items—my passport and Air Pods.
I plugged my Air Pods in for some entertainment and carelessly placed my bag, with the passport inside, on top of my luggage. Guess, I was just too drained out to be mindful. A quarter of an hour later, I realized my essential bag and passport were nowhere in sight. My immediate reaction was a panicked, "Great, I've done it now. I'm in a foreign land without my passport". I had a sinking feeling it might have slipped off my luggage and got picked up by a passerby.
And to top it all of, although I was seated just under a CCTV camera, the airport management didn't consider it a serious enough incident to review the footage.
22. Just Like The Movies
In a quaint hotel in Amsterdam, the lift I was in halted midway between floors, setting off a lady inside into panic mode. For a long 35 minutes, we were stuck with no one coming to our aid. It was packed like sardines in that elevator. You've seen scenes in films where people are squeezing out between floors? That was exactly our situation. The abrupt stop of the lift had me convinced we were done for.
23. But It’s Educational
When I was in elementary school, I spent the day at my best friend's house. We stumbled upon a huge stash of National Geographic magazines in their basement. We ended up spending quite a bit of time absorbed in the vibrant images of people dressed in their traditional outfits. The day after, I overheard my mom pick up a phone call. Instantly, I sensed it was my friend on the line, racked with guilt, and I realised our mischief had caught up with us.
24. Caught Red-Handed
When I was about nine years old, my mom had just given me a pretty stern talk because I'd been naughty. As she turned her back to leave, I bravely made a cheeky hand gesture towards her—you know, the rude one with the middle finger up. My brother was standing right there behind her. His mouth fell open in shock, and he gasped out loud, giving me away. This made our mom spin around and she caught me in the act, finger and all. Nice one, Alex—not!
25. Unlucky Leftovers
I believe it was during my 7th or 8th-grade year when my class had a shared meal—these were special occasions where we'd take turns to make a dish of a specific cuisine for lunch. On this particular day, the theme was Italian, and my mom had whipped up some tasty chicken Parmesan for everyone.
Once the meal was finished, there were a few pieces of chicken left over, so I packed them up and brought it back home, planning to have them for dinner. However, as I bit into it, I felt a strange fatty sensation and it tasted somewhat off.
I'd already eaten through half the chicken when I glanced down and to my horror, discovered it was raw inside! It was a shock, definitely, but the silver lining was that luckily, I didn't fall ill from it, so nothing really came of it.
26. Rough Waters
Not too long ago, I was out jet skiing in the Chesapeake. As I encountered some rough waters, I shifted slightly to regain control. Suddenly, I heard shouting behind me, and when I turned to look, I saw a classmate of mine coming my way. He wasn't watching where he was going and ended up hitting my jet ski. The only thought I had at that moment was "Oh no!".
Fortunately, he managed to pull away just in time. We merely brushed past each other, both of us tumbling into the water rather than experiencing a full-on collision.
27. A Feeling Of Vertigo
I have a fear of heights, known as acrophobia. During a trip to see family in Reno, Nevada, my parents and I had to drive through a mountain pass. Although I wasn't behind the wheel, I was unlucky enough to be sitting on the side of the car closest to the roadside edge. Suddenly, we had to pause our journey because a large truck ahead needed to adjust its position. My mom decided to step outside and enjoy the scenic views.
Following her lead, I also decided to step out despite my fear of heights. Looking back, it wasn't the wisest decision. As soon as I took in the view, I started feeling dizzy. The sight of the deep cliff made me so light-headed that I was about to pass out right there. Luckily, the next thing I knew, my dad caught me just in time, pulling me back safely into the car. That was quite a narrow escape.
28. Midnight Escapades
When I was just 17, I slipped out of my house during the night without my parents knowing. I planned to hang out with my cousin at our local park and also see if any shops were still open. Later that night, I found out that my parents were at my cousin's place, enjoying a nice evening with his parents. Nonetheless, I reached the park and met up with my cousin. We started roaming about, hoping that the nearby Little Caesars pizza place would be open.
Unfortunately, we found the pizza shop closed, so we decided to head back to the park. Suddenly, a call came through on my cousin's phone. My stomach dropped instantly—It was his mom. With fear gripping us, he rejected the call. We exchanged anxious looks, then we both broke into a sprint towards our respective homes, splitting ways.
I was close to reaching my home, about a block away, when I heard my uncle's car revving and speeding towards my house. My dad was also in the car. I was filled with dread when I spotted my house all lit up like a stage for some grand event. I knew then, I was in for some serious trouble!
29. The New Game Is Out
During my childhood, our house was full of tasks to be done. My mom always insisted that I dry the dishes while she washed them and also tidy up and wipe the kitchen table. Coincidentally, the latest Mortal Kombat game had just launched, and I was desperate to try it out. It was a birthday gift from my parents, but I hadn't found the time to play it yet.
So, there came a time when my mom and dad had to step out of the house. I distinctly remember my dad's instruction, "No playing video games until you've finished all your tasks". But, I couldn't resist the pull of the game and much to my surprise, I found myself diving straight into the new Mortal Kombat game. Time flew by as I was engrossed in thrilling battles. Before I knew it, five hours had passed, and I had completely ignored my chores.
The moment I heard the door open, I realized I was in hot water. My dad, quite frustrated, fetched his fancy jumper cables, sternly reminding me, "You must adhere to instructions, the moment they're given"!
30. That Was Expensive
I was in the midst of moving a small wooden seat around the office in preparation for an event happening the following day. Unfortunately, one of the legs snagged a display shelf holding a small porcelain sculpture. It ended up toppling off, along with lots of other pieces of merchandise, and the statue smashed into bits upon hitting the floor. And that's not even the most distressing part.
As it turns out, I learned later that the broken statue was valued up to a grand. I couldn't apologize enough to my boss at the time, but that doesn't stop me from feeling absolutely mortified even now.
31. Almost Attacked
After Easter brunch, my mom, my aunt, and I were in the yard just chatting. Out of the blue, a pair of big and really aggressive dogs begin to rush towards us, barking ferociously. My thoughts went to "Oh no, they're going to bite us". Luckily, their owner, who lives next door to my aunt, was able to round them up just in time. I later heard that one of these dogs had previously bitten a young girl's face so severely that she needed a lot of stitches.
32. Making A Wish
When I was in fourth grade, our reading class had a field trip to the local library for a project. My buddies and I found a table and got straight to work. After a while—say about five to fifteen minutes—our teacher decided to walk over and see how we were progressing. I remember the exact time because it's somewhat important to the story.
The clock displayed 11:11 AM and being typical fourth graders, we all believed we could make a wish at this time. So one of my pals exclaimed, "Time to make a wish!" I closed my eyes and boldly stated my wish out loud. Overhearing this, our teacher commented, “Normally, you keep your wish to yourself, not announce it."
Caught off guard, I blurted out "shut up" with a kind of serious tone. A sense of dread fell over me as I silently thought, "Oh no..." Seconds later, she replied with a sarcastic "Oh really"?
33. Kids, Am I Right?
I recently went to visit my brother-in-law's family for a much-needed holiday. My sister just had a baby, and I was asked to help out by warming up some milk. The house had two floors, and my temporary living space was on the top floor, so I had to travel downstairs to the kitchen.
The baby was getting fussy, so I was hurrying down the stairs when I missed one step. I ended up landing awkwardly on my left ankle, causing momentary pain. I even thought I heard a snapping or popping noise when I fell.
At first glance, my ankle seemed okay—no signs of damage. I couldn't ignore the baby's need for milk, so I went on to the kitchen. After coming back upstairs and checking my ankle again though, it had swelled up to an alarming size. I knew then that something wasn't right.
I ended up having to visit the doctor later that day, where I found out I'd torn a ligament. Now, instead of enjoying my vacation, I'm stuck in a cast for the next three weeks. As of today, I've been in this cast for a week. So much for a relaxing holiday.
34. The Stress Test
In Da Lat, Vietnam, I was buzzing around on my scooter. I had just had the oil changed, but I wasn't sure if I could trust the local mechanic. I wasn't there to watch him do his work, and began suspecting that maybe he had simply recycled the old oil. So, in my early 20s logic, I thought, "Why not test out the engine and listen for any differences in the sound?"
Instead of testing the motor uphill, I simply drove faster than usual. During one of the turns though, I veered too sharply and my scooter skidded. At that instant, I realized I was in trouble. Fortunately, I had invested in a top-tier helmet, and when my head bounced off the pavement, I thought, "Hands down, this helmet is the greatest purchase I've ever made".
35. Losing Time
Once upon a time, I was flying from San Francisco headed towards a city in Washington state. The flight was set to last somewhere in the ballpark of four to five hours. However, midway through what I thought to be my ride in the clouds, I noticed a descent. Panic set in, not just for me, but also for my travel companion in the next seat. I made extra effort not to say anything alarming because of my extreme fear of heights.
Fast forward a couple of minutes later and every light in the cabin flickered off. The rumble of the engine began to dim till it was barely audible, and at this point, I lost my bearings and thought it was the end! I notified my neighbor that in my perspective, the plane seemed like it was going downward prematurely. But unexpectedly, he just flashed a smile at me, and said, ‘No, I believe we’ve arrived!’.
As it so happened, unbeknownst to me, I had dozed off for the greater part of the flight.
36. Science Fair Fire
In 8th grade, I participated in a science fair where I tried to change the color of fire with various solutions and chemicals. For instance, I used rubbing alcohol for a blue flame. But things suddenly went south—I accidentally spilled some alcohol, setting our project's cardboard, stand, and decorative paper aflame. In the chaos of trying to quell the fire, I burnt my hands. Unsurprisingly, I didn't manage to clinch the victory at the science fair.
37. When You Cut Class…
This incident took place about four years ago during art class. Many of my acquaintances were absent on that day, and I took the responsibility to cover for all of them. The room in which our class was held had quite large windows. Through these, I spotted my friends signaling for me to join them outside by escaping through the window. When our teacher stepped out for a bit, I decided to seize the opportunity. I opened the window and, without overthinking it, I made a quick jump.
No sooner had I starting sprinting away, the realization of the impending trouble sank in. The sound of our teacher yelling at my heels confirmed my fears. I continued the futile sprint anyway, with her in pursuit. The escapade ultimately saw my friends manage to get away, while I found myself seated in the principal's office. My saving grace was the ability to stage a few well-timed, faux tears and expressing an apology, which got me off the hook.
38. Smashing The Snow
The sensation of my snowboard sliding across snow seemed to disappear, and it dawned on me that I was heading for a fall, likely straight onto a sharp tree stump. I had good fortune on my side though, as I landed on a soft cushion of snow, belly first. The stump, while it did do a number on the left side of my jacket, left me otherwise unscathed. Next thing I knew, I could hear the sounds of my friend hot on my trail, but with the wind completely knocked out of me, I couldn't alert him.
Helpless, I could only watch and silently pray as he flew off the edge of the cliff, soaring above me. It’s a relief we both managed to escape that incident unscathed.
39. The Cat’s Claws
I found myself trying to move a fussy cat that downright refused to get into his carrier. He squirmed into a spot where I couldn't securely hold onto him. I faced a dilemma—I either let the cat go, risk having an upset feline racing about the room and potentially lashing out at anyone near, or attempt to gently persuade him into his carrier, but probably get scratched in the process.
Things took a turn when the cat slipped, sinking his teeth deeply into my hand. Thankfully, no stitches were required, but I was resigned to the fact that dealing with this cat was inevitably going to result in some sort of injury.
40. A Sudden Stop
Strolling around my local area, I came across a neighbor who had used lava rock to enhance their yard's appearance. Some rocks had spilled onto the walkway unbeknownst to me. My foot, quite unaware, landed on one. The hardened texture of the lava rock doesn't give way easily, so when I lifted my foot to walk, it felt like hitting a sudden brake. My heart immediately sank to my stomach.
As I hurtled forward onto the hard cement, it dawned on me that I was falling, with no means to prevent it. All I could do was prepare for the inevitable crash. Trying to break the fall, my arm stretched out, unfortunately landing in a wrong way, causing a hurt around my ribcage muscles. My knee wasn't spared either, getting quite scraped up. Ice packs and I became best buddies for the days following the incident.
41. Tattoo Troubles
My traditional-minded mom spotted my new tattoos adorning my shoulder blades. In her hand, she was gripping a cheese slicer. Without uttering a word, she gave them a glare that was just packed with absolute loathing. I'd come of age at 18, and in that moment, I took off running, my mom hotfooting it behind me with a cheese slicer in hand. My friend, left solo in the kitchen, was just baffled. The question "What just happened?!" hung in the silence.
When my friend eventually pieced together the situation, she had herself a hearty chuckle. From this experience, I learned my tattoos came with an unexpected price tag: for every additional tattoo, kiss 20% of my inheritance goodbye.
42. Quick, Hit The Breaks
When I was around 12 years old, I had a paper route that I completed using my good old 10-speed bike. One day, I was pedaling down a sharp hill with newspapers tucked under one arm while I steered with the other. Suddenly, I realized that I was picking up speed too quickly, and to my dismay, the brakes were of no help. To make matters worse, a vehicle was ascending the very hill I was racing down.
Off in the distance, I noticed a side street. It seemed my best chance to avoid colliding with the oncoming car, but my speed was a problem. Complicating matters further, there was a tall curb beside a sewer grate; I couldn't avoid it and ended up crashing into it, launching me into the air. The next thing I knew, I was gliding near-ground level, eventually managing a soft landing on some plush green grass.
Around 25 feet behind me, my bike lay stopped against the curb. Miraculously, when I picked myself up from the grass, I still had all the newspapers tucked under my arm and, astonishingly, not a single scratch on me.
43. Just This Much Away
I was coming to a halt at a crossroads while driving when I caught sight of a GMC Yukon's grill in my rear-view mirror. I watched the entire vehicle lurch forward as the driver jammed his foot on the brake urgently, and the passenger even braced herself against the windshield. They managed to stop barely a hair away from my car's rear end.
The driver's hands remained glued to the steering wheel, eyes focused dead ahead, while the passenger clutched her chest. Overcoming extreme shock, they realized they were moments away from turning my car into a crumpled mess. I drove home charged with an adrenaline rush and a heart pounding like a galloping horse—not exactly my idea of a good time.
44. You Need A Better Chair
About 12 years ago when I was 33, I suffered a severe spinal cord injury. It's kind of funny because my story isn't some exciting adventure gone wrong. The truth is, I've got unlucky genetics and managed to break my neck just by sitting in an office chair. I remember twisting my neck to talk to my boss, hearing an alarming crack, and suddenly, I couldn't feel my right leg anymore. Things continued to spiral after that...
The details after that are a bit fuzzy, but I think somehow I managed to drive myself home. My then-husband rushed me to the ER, where a doctor, who was eerily reminiscent of Alan Alda, attended to me. After undergoing numerous surgeries, I'm now able to walk, thanks to a medical device implanted in my rear, which delivers medication directly to my spinal cord. For a time, it was uncertain whether I would ever be able to walk again.
45. A Skating Crash
While I was out roller skating, I found myself heading into a tricky turn at around 10-20 mph. At that moment, I realized I was going to tumble. Aware that hitting the concrete would likely lead to injury, I steered myself towards the safety of grass, hoping to avoid serious harm or road rash.
The result of this was a fall on my left side, a little damage to my skate, a strained shoulder due to the shock, and a bruised ego. Thankfully, I'm good at taking a fall without causing too much harm to myself. However, I've made a mental note to steer clear of outdoor skating in crowded areas for a while.
46. Under The Leaf Cover
While strolling through the forest, I found myself searching for a hidden trail that had seemingly disappeared before me. Dry leaves had accumulated up to my ankles, which unintentionally led to me stepping into a concealed hole that the leaves had effectively hidden. To my right, there was a subtle rocky indent, and I unfortunately placed my foot right in it. Observing my foot oddly bending into an "s" shape with my leg, I thought to myself: Yep, I'm in a real pickle.
47. Too Heavy For The Tree
When I was 13, I was just a few weeks into a new school year at a different school. One day, I stayed after school with a classmate who I shared a ride with, hoping we could become friends. He led me into the woods near his house, showing me his favorite tree to climb, complete with makeshift seats on its lower branches.
We ended up climbing to the very top of this old, partly decayed pine tree. However, I overlooked the fact that my friend was substantially lighter than me—by probably 50 pounds. It felt unreal when the branch we were on gave way beneath me.
Suddenly, I found myself falling from a height of nearly 30 feet. The reality of the situation hit me when I struck the first branch on my way down, and I truly thought I was a goner. My fall was interrupted by several other branches which left me scratched up, but thankfully cushioned my fall, sparing my bones.
The pile of branches on which I landed probably made a difference too, since it wasn't as solid as the ground. After landing, I had a brief moment of relief thinking, "Well, that wasn't as terrible as I imagined", but then I let out a scream—it was pretty painful, after all. Despite the pain, I managed to get up and limp away, battered and bruised, but not badly hurt. Needless to say, my mom wasn't exactly thrilled about the whole fiasco.
48. What Actually Happened?
Once upon a time, I was the director of a prominent U.S. museum, stepping on stage to present a somewhat contentious talk. I was already feeling the butterflies. Suddenly, there's this huge, echoing bang that seemed to come from inside my head!
I didn’t actually feel myself falling, but I knew I had hit the ground as my sight grew blurry and turned red. In those brief three seconds following the noise, I was convinced I'd been shot and had mere moments left.
I'm a pretty hefty guy, and as I drifted towards unconsciousness, I saw my friend, the museum nurse, trying to hoist me up. The shock must've numbed the pain somewhat, but believe me when I say it hurt—the discomfort was unimaginable. I involuntarily accepted that my nursing friend’s face would be my final vision. Then, I blacked out.
Imagine my surprise when I woke up in a hospital, four hours later after emergency surgery. Turns out, I hadn't been shot at all! What happened was an abscessed wisdom tooth that had alarmingly infected and the abscess burst into my head, cracking my tooth from end to root and fracturing my left jawbone. The force was so enthralling that it caused my eyes to bleed and knocked me unconscious.
During this time, my wisdom tooth was removed without any anesthesia and the infection drained. Makes me shudder just thinking about it.
49. I Need A Ride…
One night, as I was at a gas station, a man walked up to me asking for a lift. I declined instantly. However, when he brandished a large knife insisting I cooperate, I succumbed to his demand. I had no intention of getting hurt. He directed me to a run-down motel located in a shady neighborhood. The journey was terrifying as he pointed the knife at me throughout.
As we reached the motel's parking lot, I was sure this was the end for me. But then something I could never foresee occurred. He stepped out of the car first and out of the blue, two men appeared. Like protective spirits, they sprang on him who had held me hostage.
I overheard a bit and inferred that he probably owed them some money. I didn't linger to learn more, but quickly escaped from that ominous parking lot, my car's passenger door still ajar. To this day, I am amazed that I survived that ordeal.
50. Like A Ton Of Bricks
I was on an investigation out in a remote area looking into a fire. This fire was at a unique location—a mobile home that had been encased with a brick shell. If you didn't know, trailers often burn as quickly as a match and the brick enclosure retains all the heat, leading to an intensely unstable structure. This set the scene for my near-disastrous blunder.
While capturing photos and navigating the site, I mistakenly stepped on a chunk of the roof, which to my surprise, was still attached to a standing brick wall. This action caused the remaining portion of the brick wall to come crashing down on top of me, burying me in a pile of bricks. It was agonizing. If you've never experienced a brick wall collapse on you (which one would hope not), it's an all-consuming pain.
I found myself trapped under the rubble for about five to six minutes, grappling with assessing my condition, wondering if I was seriously hurt, whether any bones were broken, or if I'd be stuck here indefinitely. I was isolated with no cell reception and completely out of sight. I was all alone, kilometers away from anywhere, trapped in the midst of a razed structure under a collapsed brick wall.
Miraculously, I managed to escape my brick coffin relatively unscathed—nothing more than some cuts, scrapes and a few bruises. After a significant struggle, I was able to free myself, but boy, did I have some body aches to deal with for what seemed like forever.
Sources: Reddit,
