What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Valerian Abakovsky, a Russian inventor, died at the age of 25 due to his invention called the Aerowagon.
The Aerowagon was a prototype for a rapid train car designed to transport Soviet officials. During a test run, the car derailed, causing the death of six out of the 22 passengers, including Abakovsky.
Unfortunately, the invention proved unsuccessful, leading to Reichelt's fatal demise. The sad event was captured on film.
A Polish trailblazer in the field of medicine, she achieved numerous significant accomplishments throughout her life. She earned the distinction of being the inaugural female recipient of a Nobel Prize, as well as the first woman to claim two Nobel Prizes, owing to her groundbreaking work on radioactivity.
Curie is acknowledged for her co-discovery of radioactive elements such as radium and polonium. Tragically, she passed away from radiation exposure resulting from her research endeavors.
Henry Smolinski pioneered the AVE Mizar, an innovative flying vehicle, introduced in 1973. Essentially a fusion of a Ford Pinto and an airplane, Smolinski courageously piloted the car during a fateful test flight that tragically ended in disaster.
Max Valier was an active participant in a German rocket society in the 1920s and created innovative liquid-fueled rocket engines during his membership.
In 1930, Valier tragically died when an engine fueled by alcohol exploded on his test bench in Berlin.
Horace Lawson Hunley, a Confederate marine, created submarines during the American Civil War. One of his creations, the H. L. Hunley, became a perilous contraption.
Hunley took control during a trial voyage in 1863. The submarine didn't resurface, and Hunley and his seven crew members all drowned.
The web rotary printing press played a crucial role in transforming the modern world while tragically claiming the life of its creator, William Bullock.
Bullock's foot got caught and crushed by the machine he was installing in Philadelphia, which led to gangrene. Sadly, he passed away during the subsequent surgery.
This British shipbuilder was responsible for designing plans for the RMS Titanic, the colossal ship that tragically sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
Andrews was a passenger on the ship's first journey, famously known for its tragic ending that resulted in over 1,500 deaths.
Winstanley, a painter and engineer, constructed the first Eddystone lighthouse, which endured damage during the Great Storm of 1703.
The storm ravaged the Eddystone Rocks, demolishing the lighthouse and claiming the lives of Winstanley and five others.
The engineer from Romania decided to name an airplane he constructed after himself. Unfortunately, the Vlaicu II didn't perform well during a flight over the Carpathian Mountains in 1913.
The plane never made it across the mountains and Vlaicu died. The exact cause of the accident was never confirmed.
In 1785, a French chemist and aviation pioneer created the Rozière balloon. In the same year, during a test ride over the English Channel, the balloon crashed.
According to reports, the balloon in Pas-de-Calais caught fire and subsequently deflated, resulting in a fatal crash that claimed the life of Rozier.
This individual was a co-founder of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company along with his twin brother. They produced the Stanley Steamer, a steam-powered car with impressive power.
Stanley passed away in 1918 while operating a Stanley Steamer car. The accident happened when he veered to avoid farm wagons and collided with a woodpile.
Roper was an inventor of the Roper steam velocipede, a futuristic steam buggy that some say was the world's first motorcycle.
He passed away in 1896 at the age of 72 while participating in a public steam trial. Roper suffered a heart attack as a result of the crash of his steam-powered bicycle. It is uncertain whether the heart attack or the crash led to his demise.
Fred Duesenberg, alongside his brother August, achieved renown for establishing the Duesenberg Motors Company, a manufacturer of opulent automobiles from 1913 to 1937.
Fred Duesenberg died in 1932 due to a deadly car crash while driving a Duesenberg vehicle.
Mr. Midgley, an American engineer, sadly fell victim to polio, one among numerous individuals affected in the 20th century. Tragically, it was not this illness that ultimately claimed his life.
Midgley developed a network of ropes and pulleys to help him in bed. One day, he became entangled in the device, and strangled himself to death at the age of 55.
See also: These German inventions upgrade your everyday life
This tailor lived until 1912, when he was notoriously killed by his own invention in Paris, France. Reichelt created a coat parachute and decided to trial it off the Eiffel Tower's first deck.
Continue reading to discover other brilliant inventors who met their demise due to the very creations they pioneered.
Marie Curie and other inventors who were killed by their own creations
Moonshots, missteps, and deadly consequences
LIFESTYLE Curiosity
In recent centuries, humanity has seen remarkable progress in the realm of innovation. We've achieved feats like reaching the moon, finding cures for certain types of cancer, and even reimagining the wheel a few times over. Innovators play a crucial role in propelling society forward, yet at times, their creations can take a tragic turn. Consider the case of Franz Reichelt, who tragically lost his life attempting to leap from the Eiffel Tower wearing the parachute suit he designed. This serves as a valuable lesson for aspiring young inventors: perform thorough testing of your ideas; otherwise, you too could fall from a great height...
Continue reading to discover other brilliant inventors who met their demise due to the very creations they pioneered.