Weird Probate Issues Part 6: Strange and Unexpected Deaths

Updated: 12 October 2026

By Rod Genders | Genders and Partners

Death is a serious subject — but history has not been without its share of extraordinarily peculiar departures from this mortal coil. Our Weird Probate Issues series continues in its morbidly popular vein. Beyond the dark humour, however, each of these stories carries a practical estate planning message: death can be unexpected. The time to prepare is now.

#1 Too Much Confidence, Not Enough Common Sense

In 2009, a Russian man named Sergey Tuganov bet two acquaintances he could satisfy them sexually for twelve hours straight. To improve his odds, he consumed an entire bottle of Viagra. He won the bet. Then he dropped dead of a heart attack. His estate — and whether he had a Will — is unrecorded.

#2 The Romantic Poet and the Moon

Li Bai, one of China’s greatest Tang Dynasty poets (701–762 AD), is said to have drowned in the Yangtze River while attempting to embrace the moon’s reflection from a boat. It is a fitting end for a romantic poet, if not an especially useful one for his beneficiaries.

#3 An Excess of Aerosol

A sixteen-year-old in England became so obsessed with avoiding body odour that he used dozens of cans of spray-on deodorant each day. He died of propellant gas inhalation, found slumped against his bed. No amount of estate planning can prevent every tragedy — but ensuring that minors and young adults are provided for under a testamentary trust is a critical part of any parent’s estate plan.

#4 Snake in the Middle

In 1995 in Alabama, two men named Junior Bright and Joe Buddy Caine, emboldened by alcohol, began tossing a live rattlesnake to each other. The snake was unamused. Both were bitten; Caine died on the way to hospital. The snake, in what might be described as a measured exit, slithered away.

#5 The King Who Went Up in Flames

In the late 1300s, King Charles II of Navarre, suffering from illness, was wrapped from head to toe in brandy-soaked linen bandages as part of his medical treatment. A nurse, having misplaced her scissors, attempted to cut a thread using a candle flame. She lit the King ablaze. He perished. The lesson here for estate planners is perhaps that one should not leave matters of succession to chance.

#6 The Fold-Out Bed

In 2009, two elderly sisters on holiday rested in a wall-mounted fold-out bed in their hotel. The bed collapsed, folding itself up with both women inside. They were not discovered for four days. This story, beyond its horror, is a reminder that as we age, our estate planning needs change. A current, comprehensive estate plan is essential at every stage of life.

#7 Death by Video Game

In South Korea in 2005, a twenty-eight-year-old man died at an internet café after a marathon fifty-hour session of the video game StarCraft, having not eaten, drunk, or slept. His estate, whatever it consisted of, presumably passed intestate under Korean law. The lesson for South Australians: if you die without a valid Will, your estate passes under the intestacy provisions of Part 4 of the Succession Act 2023 (SA), not according to your wishes.

#8 The Atomic Wedgie

In 2013 in Oklahoma, a man killed his stepfather during a drinking session by accidentally strangling him with his own underwear while attempting to deliver an "atomic wedgie." Brad Davis was convicted of manslaughter. He presumably did not have the contents of his stepfather’s estate in mind at the time.

#9 The World’s Longest Beard

Hans Steininger of Braunau, Austria, boasted the world’s longest beard — over one and a half metres. One day, fleeing a fire, he tripped on his beard, fell, broke his neck, and died. His beard is preserved in the Braunau Town Museum. His estate planning arrangements are not recorded.

#10 Death by Laughing

The ancient Greek philosopher Chrysippus (c. 279 BC) reportedly died of laughter after observing a drunk donkey attempting to eat figs. Whether he had testamentary capacity at the time is a question we shall leave to the philosophers.

#11 Too Much of a Good Thing

Health enthusiast Basil Brown drank so much carrot juice — in the belief that it would grant him superhuman vision — that he developed vitamin A toxicity and died of liver cirrhosis. He had reportedly consumed ten gallons of carrot juice in ten days. Even the most health-conscious among us should ensure their affairs are in order.

#12 The Great London Beer Flood

In October 1814, a 22-foot fermentation vat at the Horse Shoe Brewery in London ruptured, releasing the equivalent of 3,500 barrels of ale into the street. Several people were killed in the resulting flood of beer. It is not known whether any of the victims had Wills. The event suggests, at minimum, that the unexpected can come in many forms.

The Estate Planning Lesson

Death rarely announces itself conveniently. The cases above are extreme, but every year across South Australia, perfectly healthy people die without warning from accidents, sudden illness, and circumstances no one could have predicted. If you die without a valid Will in South Australia, your estate will be distributed under the intestacy provisions of Part 4 of the Succession Act 2023 (SA). This may not reflect your wishes, and it will inevitably cause additional distress to those you leave behind.

A comprehensive estate plan — including a current Will, Enduring Power of Attorney, and Advance Care Directive made under the Advance Care Directives Act 2013 (SA) — is the most practical act of care you can perform for your family. It costs far less than the cost of dying intestate.

The Succession Act 2023 (SA) (commenced 1 January 2025) governs Wills, probate, and intestate succession in South Australia. The Wills Act 1936 (SA) and Administration and Probate Act 1919 (SA) have been repealed. Ensure your estate planning advice is based on current law.

Want to Find Out More?

This article is part of the Weird Probate Issues series — intended to entertain, but also to remind you that estate planning is for everyone, not merely the elderly or the wealthy. Genders and Partners has guided South Australian families through estate planning since 1848.

When it comes to Wills, Probate, Deceased Estates, asset protection and estate planning in Australia, you can trust the oldest law firm in South Australia – Genders & Partners – to guide you through the tough decisions to create the best solution for your individual needs.

If you have any questions or would like further information, or a quick phone call to discuss, book a timeslot for a free 15-minute phone consultation.

We can help you to protect yourself and your family. We look forward to being of service.

More Estate Planning Resources

• Estate Planning | Genders and Partners
• End of Life Planning — Advance Care Directives in Adelaide
• What is Probate and is it always required in South Australia?
• The Necessity of Getting Your Affairs in Order Now
• Weird Probate Issues Part 5
• Weird Probate Issues Part 7

All these and many more estate planning topics are available for discussion with the oldest law firm in South Australia. Visit our Adelaide Lawyer Blog for more articles.

This article revised and updated 12 October 2026.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Wills, intestacy, and estate planning matters can be complex, and laws and procedures may change over time. You should always seek independent legal advice from a qualified practitioner before making decisions about your estate.