A quick/instant death

[Kris02]

Morbid topic I know, but have you ever witnessed (or been told about) an instant, painless death? Most deaths seem to be preceded by lots of suffering and struggling - the death rattle, etc. I watched my grandmother die of a stroke, for example, which terrified me, as it took her 24 hours or more to die. The same was true of the cancer and heart deaths I’ve witnessed.

But I have been told by others that the’ve witnessed very quick deaths, almost instant in fact. My neighbour’s dad, for example, was sat in his chair watching the football. My neighbour went into the kitchen to get them both a beer and when he came back his dad was dead - just slumped there with a slight smile on his face, gone. My neighbour often says what a beautiful death it was and how grateful he is that he never saw his dad suffer.

My friend (a police officer) told me she’s often broken into a house or flat to find an elderly person dead in front of the TV. Once, she found an elderly woman sat at her breakfast table, with a plate of toast in front of her, dead, and yet kind of sitting there as if nothing had happened. That would do for me!

Personally, the thought of a lingering death terrifies me, and I find these stories weirdly comforting. I hope to be around for some time yet, but when I go, I’d really like to be slightly drunk on red wine, sat watching the TV. Do people really die like that? I don’t need to say goodbye to anyone. My loved ones know how much I love them. I tell them every day.

My dad got up in the middle of the night, went to the loo, came back and sat on the bed. He made a little sigh and then toppled over onto the bed. Gone. There is such a thing as a good death. He had only had a clean bill of health that week from his GP.

Firstly there’s the title
Secondly the OP begins by saying Morbid topic
Thirdly if anyone did die in their sleep they’d never know

That's literally what I said, that a quick painless death is better. You clearly didn't bother to read my post properly.

My Dad died in his sleep. And someone at work died recently at his desk. No warning, just died. I think it is a good way to go (for them).

My Uncle died suddenly. He had eaten Sunday lunch, had a lie down on the sofa and never got back up. We all said it was a good way to go.

I'd add the caveat - clean - to quick and painless. My mother's death was quick but a massive haemorrhage of intestinal varices. Literally a bloodbath that we had to clean up.

I feel better having read this thread, so thank you to the OP.

My aunt died very suddenly in her 70s. She'd been out for dinner and to see a film with my uncle and they were walking through the city centre to catch a taxi home when she suddenly said "I don't feel very well." They sat down on a nearby bench and her head slumped forward and that was it, she was gone.

Cause of death was a brain haemorrhage and I think it was a terrible, terrible shock for my uncle but knowing it was quick and painless at the end of a lovely evening they'd had together has brought him some comfort he says.

I know of someone who died recently, only 33, was out with friends on a relaxation weekend, laughing and joking, suddenly felt funny, then collapsed and was dead before she landed. Very sad for the family, had young kids, and a massive shock. Guess she new very little about it though.

My dad died in his sleep when I was young aged 52, no sign of illness and he had been playing golf that day. 4 days later his mother died aged 95, she was in a care home with dementia. I like to think my dad fetched my nan. It's a good way to go but at the time I was terrified of going to sleep in case I didn't wake up. I was also convinced I would die at 52, so felt better when I hit 53

A relative of mine died while babysitting. The kids were all too young to properly understand, but she'd sat down in the chair and just died. The kids had been playing around her for a few hours before an adult found her.

My great gran also died instantly from a massive heart attack. She'd been told not to do anything strenuous, including housework. She waited until everyone was at work and then changed the beds. My great aunt went home for lunch and found her dead under a pile of bedding. My great aunt who found her is now 91 and wishes the same could happen to her. She's bedbound but doesn't have anything wrong with her that could kill her any time soon. She's 100% sure her mum caused that heart attack on purpose. Her husband also died of a massive heart attack - got up one morning, walked to the bathroom and dropped dead.

My brother in law died in his sleep. Heart just stopped beating, no sign of any pain. Perfect way to go in my opinion, only he was much too young - only 49.

Working as a junior hairdresser,we had a regular old lady come in for a perm. We put her rollers in and left her with a magazine. We were used to the older ladies falling asleep under the dryer etc so we just assumed she had fallen asleep. She passed away. Her son was so thankful she wasn't alone at home.

@OnlyLosersTakeTheBus that happened to my uncle sadly on his 50th birthday found by my mum and dad and they had to clean up. Police were called and unbeknownst them there was also a massive weed farm upstairs.
He literally left behind a shit storm (sorry if that sounds flippant)

My aunt came home from work after a nursing night shift to find her husband dead, having peacefully died, kneeling next to his bed, saying his prayers, bless him 🙏

I've had two friends die in their early fifties in the past few months. One was just found dead at home, so I've no idea whether she suffered, I really hope not. The second had been to the pub, went back to a friends house and fell asleep in the chair and died. She was 51. It has all been so sad.

Yes my dad literally dropped dead at 59. His dad died in a chair at 48, my gran offered him a cup of tea, went to make it, he was dead when she brought it through. My brother in law dropped dead at 65 at work and my sister was found dead in her bed at 48 I'm hoping for the same.

DHs granny died on a plane. She had spent a lovely week in Spain and then died minutes after sitting in her seat on the plane.
It was a lovely way for her to go but a total pita for the family ( and everyone else on the plane whose flight was delayed for hours)

My DM, a retired nurse, often says: the best death is when you go to bed and awake up dead. 😊
My DM, often talks about how even very sick people often improve by leaps and bounds, and then die within a die or two.
I've only ever met one person who I think had a nice death, she told her carer, my DM "That's it, the end." Then she started having trouble breathing and she ended up dying in hospital. When I saw her in the casket I thanked the undertaker for making her look so nice and she said "Oh, I only put a bit of cream on her face". Honest to heavens she was 90 but looked 60 that day, she looked so fabulous I can't even describe it.... Honestly, I thought she had makeup on because she looked so great. I think she went to a much better place and that makes me feel much better.

*wake up not awake! loool

My uncle was found with a bag of crisps on his lap, glass of wine beside him, telly on and French doors open behind him. Medics thought he'd been dead 24-48 hours.

My cat was running around as normal one afternoon, I went into the room an hour later and she was curled up dead on the sofa.

I know someone who shot themself.

That was instant.
I don’t know if it was painless.

Elvis died whilst sitting on the crapper. I just thought i should add that as an important thing to know.

I knew of an elderly lady who was found dead in her chair with a gin and tonic next to her and the telly on.

That’d do me. Oblivious.

Well anyone who dies while under general anaesthetic has a painless death.

Lots of people die in their sleep.

Others die so quickly that they may have had a brief second of realisation but nothing more.