John Lennon

John Lennon, legendary musician and member of The Beatles, passed away on the 8th of December, 1980. He was shot and fatally wounded by Mark David Chapman while signing autographs for fans outside his apartment building The Dakota, just ten minutes after this photograph was taken. Chapman, who later claimed that he was inspired by the protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye to kill Lennon for his wealth (and his comment that “The Beatles are bigger than Jesus”), can be seen to the right of Lennon in this photo.

Columbine hero Dave Sanders

The Columbine High School Massacre was one of the most tragic and infamous events in modern American history. In 1999, students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher, Dave Sanders, after Sanders ran into the school cafeteria and warned hundreds of students to hide and get to safety. Students alerted police to Sanders’ injury by placing a sign reading “one bleeding to death” in a classroom, but officers sadly at first believed it to be a ruse and arrived too late to save the heroic teacher.

Concorde Air France Flight 4590

Ever since Concorde began commercial flights, there has only ever been one accident, which occurred on the Paris to New York flight on July 25th, 2000. The aircraft struck debris on the runway, which punctured both a tire and a fuel tank just before take-off, leading to the craft being engulfed in flames. The plane tragically crashed into a hotel, killing all 100 plane passengers as well as four people who were on the ground below.

Robin Williams

Very few comedians are as universally beloved as Robin Williams. While also having a reputation for being sweet, kind and caring in addition to being hilarious, Williams struggled with mental illness throughout his life. He often spoke about his battle with depression, and tragically ended his life following a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2014. Always gracious and generous, Robin Williams agreed to take a photograph with this fan at Dairy Queen just a few days prior to his death.

Bear Attack

While they’re painted as cute and cuddly in the media, there’s no getting away from the very real danger that bears present. In September 2014, a group of five students in New Jersey were stalked by a 300-pound black bear, with one 22-year-old called Darsh Patel being killed by the hungry animal. Patel himself took this photograph just minutes before the group were forced to split up and attempt to flee. When the phone was found, the screen had been punctured by the animal’s teeth.

1943 Lambert Tragedy

A single bolt isn’t usually the difference between life and death, but in this case, it really was. In 1943, the mayor of St. Louis boarded a military glider along with nine other politicians, which was then released from a C-47 cargo plane. A single bolt on the glider had loosened, which in turn caused the wing to be torn off. As a result, the vehicle plummeted to the ground and all ten passengers, including Mayor William Dee Becker, lost their lives.

The Titanic

The Titanic is maybe the most famous tragedy in history, so many people will have seen this picture before. This image was taken just after the RMS Titanic set sail from Queenstown, into the waters where it would later strike an iceberg 375 miles south of Newfoundland. 2,224 passengers boarded the Titanic for its maiden voyage, but only 705 survivors were recovered by the RMS Carpathia when it arrived on the scene of the sinking.

Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182

Thankfully nowadays, plane collisions in the sky are enormously rare, due to all the technology that exists to help aircraft stay aware of what is in the sky around them. However, 1978 was a different time, which is why PSA Flight 182 was able to accidentally crash into a private plane flying above San Francisco. All 135 passengers aboard the commercial flight were killed, as were the two passengers of the private plane, and seven additional bystanders on the ground also lost their lives.

Paul Walker

Because Paul Walker was best known for his role in the Fast and Furious series, it was sadly ironic when he died in a high speed car accident. His friend Roger Rodas was driving Walker’s Porsche with Walker in the passenger seat, and the car crashed into a lamp post and some trees whilst travelling 80mph in a 45mph zone, killing both men. Both Walker’s father and daughter filed wrongful death suits against Porsche, which resulted in settlements, and his brothers Cody and Caleb Walker stepped in to finish his scenes in 2015’s Furious 7.

Notorious B.I.G.

Biggie Smalls, also known as Notorious B.I.G, is still widely considered to be one of the best rappers of all time. Tragically, he was embroiled in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud in the late 90s, and was speculated to be involved in Tupac’s death in September 1996. As a result, Smalls was killed in a drive-by shooting in March 1997, with this being one of the last photos taken of him beforehand.

Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze was voted People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1991, but just 19 years later he was struck down by pneumonia. In December 2007, he was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer and underwent immediate chemotherapy and surgery. Unfortunately, by 2009 the cancer had metastasized to his liver, and he passed away from complications of the disease in September at the age of 57.

2003 R.I. Nightclub Fire

The 2003 Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island remains the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in American history, claiming the lives of 100 patrons and injuring 230 others. During the band Great White’s headline show, their tour manager let off pyrotechnics, which immediately ignited the flammable acoustic foam mounted to the back wall. Black smoke and quick-spreading fire engulfed the venue within two minutes, and this photograph was taken just seconds beforehand.

Deadly Niagara Falls Ski Jump

In 1995, Robert Overacker decided to raise awareness for the plight of the homeless by going over the edge of the falls on a jet ski. The stunt did not go to plan and immediately went from risky to fatal when Overacker’s rocket-propelled parachute failed to open during the dive. Overacker’s body was recovered the next day and immediately rushed to Niagara General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

July 17th, 2014 was the date of one of the most tragic aeroplane disasters in history. Near the border between Russia and Ukraine, the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down, killing the 283 passengers and 15 crew members who were on board. This photograph was taken of a family flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Everest Explorers George Mallory & Sandy Irvine

As the tallest mountain in the world as well as the most famous, Everest is a lauded and aspirational expedition location for many explorers and enthusiasts. It’s also frequently deadly, and was even more fatal in the years before anyone had managed to clear the summit and come back. In 1924 George Mallory and Sandy Irvine attempted the first ascent of the mountain but died somewhere on the North Ridge. It would take until 1953 for someone to achieve the feat.

September 11, 2001

The September 11 terrorist attack was a cultural flashpoint in America’s national consciousness and Western history overall, with the reverberations of the event still being felt today. Across both Washington D.C. and New York, a total of 2,996 lives were claimed. United Airlines Flight 175 collided with the South Tower of the World Trade Centre at 9.03 AM.

James Dean’s Final Picture

James Dean is a legendary Hollywood figure, so much so that his name is synonymous with a certain bygone style, attitude and even way of being. In October 1955, Dean travelled to compete in the Salinas Road Race, having traded in his Speedster for the faster Porsche 550 Spyder for the occasion. Dean was ticketed for speeding on his way to the event, and was killed when student Donald Turnupsee turned onto the highway ahead of him, with Dean being unable to stop the vehicle in time.

Johnny Cash’s Last Performance

Johnny Cash’s world was changed forever in May 2003, when his wife June Carter Cash passed away. Shortly before her death, she instructed him to keep on working, and so he completed 60 songs in the last four months of his life. At his final performance, Cash said: “The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight with the love she had for me and the love I have for her. We connect somewhere between here and Heaven. She came down for a short visit, I guess, from Heaven to visit with me tonight to give me courage and inspiration like she always has. ” Cash died four months later in September 2003.

Japan Air Flight 123

In 1985, 520 people died after Japan Airlines Flight 123 suffered an explosive decompression 12 minutes into the flight, with all four crew members passing away along with the majority of the passengers. 32 minutes later, the plane crashed on Mount Takamagahara, making it impossible for medical attention to be administered quickly. Miraculously, four passengers managed to survive despite being gravely injured and stranded on the mountainside.

Joy Division’s Ian Curtis

The lead singer of post-punk band Joy Division began experiencing seizures in 1978 and was diagnosed with epilepsy by January of the next year. Though he was initially hopeful about treatment, as his seizures increased he began abusing substances and alcohol to manage his symptoms, which led to more deterioration. The night before Joy Division’s first-ever American tour, Curtis took his own life. This picture of Curtis alongside his young daughter was taken just five days before.

Hot Air Balloon Disaster

The third-deadliest hot air balloon disaster came in 2012, when a sightseeing balloon in Carterton, New Zealand collided with a series of power lines. The balloon then caught fire, killing both the pilot and all 10 passengers before the balloon was able to be brought back to the ground. The deadliest hot air balloon accident came the very next year in 2013, when 19 out of 21 passengers on a balloon in Egypt lost their lives after a leak in the balloon’s fuel tank caused it to deflate.

1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team

In 1961, America’s figure skating team was preparing to compete in the world championships in Belgium, but it was an appointment they were not destined to make. Before landing in Brussels, the Boeing 707 crashed, killing all 72 passengers and crew members. The collision also killed a farmer, whose land the plane had crashed into.

1976 Ebola Outbreak

It’s difficult to process a pandemic in the same way that other disasters are approached, as the threat is far more nebulous and the death toll more spread out. However, there are cases of fast-moving and tragic outbreaks, such as the Ebola outbreak in 1976. The first recorded wave of the disease infected 318 people and killed 280 of them. Nurse Mayinga N’Seka is pictured here, just days before she passed away from the virus.

A Boy Falls Off a Plane

This tragedy is particularly heart-rending because it is so unusual. In 1970, 14-year-old Keith Sapsford plummeted 200 feet to his death after a plane took off. Sapsford had been hiding in one of the wheel wells and somehow hadn’t been discovered, leading to him taking to the air. This photograph was taken by amateur photographer John Gilspin, who just happened to be taking pictures of the planes in the airport when this occurred.

Eagles of Death Metal show at the Bataclan

In 2015, rock band Eagles of Death Metal were playing a sold-out show at the Bataclan in Paris, when four terrorists entered the venue and began shooting indiscriminately into the crowd. 90 fans were killed in the attack, including the man working the band’s merch table during the concert. In the wake of the attack, several bands showed support by covering the Eagles of Death Metal song I Love You All the Time, including Kings of Leon and Florence and the Machine.

A Racecar Driver’s Last Moments

!n 1994, the San Marino Grand Prix was held in Imola, Italy. Brazillian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna was one of the drivers competing, and is pictured here resting before the beginning of the race. Tragically though, Senna would not make it to the finish line. Ayrton Senna died by the side of the track after his car ran straight off the road and into a retaining wall, during lap seven of the race.

A Snake Charmer at Work

Snake charming is one of the most mysterious and revered professions in the world, taking an immense amount of bravery, skill and cool-headedness. However, no amount of practice or experience can entirely remove the risk of working with a live, dangerous animal. Ali Khan Bin Samsuddin was a renowned snake charmer who had worked with the creatures for a long time, but his end came in 2006 when he was unable to charm a cobra whose bite led to his death.

The Crew of the Challenger About to Board

The Challenger mission was supposed to be the next great step in America’s space exploration, but instead it ended in tragedy before it began. Due to two redundant O-rings failing that were keeping the shuttle’s right solid rocket booster joint in place, the Challenger craft broke apart just 73 seconds into flight. The entire crew were killed in the implosion as the orbiter had no escape system.

Uruguayan Flight 571

On October 13th, 1972, Uruguayan Flight 571 crashed into the Andes Mountains. 28 people out of the 48 passengers and crew survived the initial impact, but it would take 72 days for the group to be rescued and brought to safety. In that time, the survivors were forced to cannibalise the dead. On December 23rd of the same year, 16 people were brought back to society.

President William McKinley

William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 to 1901. His term was cut prematurely short when he was assassinated by anarchist steelworker Leon Czolgosz, who killed McKinley as he mounted the steps of the Temple of Music in Buffalo, New York. William McKinley was succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, who would soon become a historical icon in his own right.

Tiger Food

Over time, many rumours have swirled around this particular story. Some people say that the man was simply trying to get a closer look at the tiger while the zoo authorities said that the man had jumped over the fence even after many warnings, risking his own life with no regard for what could happen next. The New Delhi police registered his case as negligence.

Green Vs. Wallace

This picture is of Officer Green and Lawrence Wallace. Green was checking Wallace into the metro jail on counts of robbery and arson when the situation went from tense to fatal. In a moment of defiance, Wallace grabbed a knife and stabbed Green, fleeing in Green’s patrol car. The officers trailed him and rounded him up, eventually killing him in a heavy exchange of gunfire.

Karl Wallenda

Karl Wallenda was a skywalking artist and one of the founders of circus act the Flying Wallendas. However, he also ended up being one of the people who lost their lives while performing such daredevil stunts, as he never made it to the end of her final rope walk. Wallenda’s final stunt was at the age of 73 and his death was captured on camera by various media stations in Puerto Rico.