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Train once sang that there are a thousand ways to die. But we think that might be a gross underestimate. Besides the obvious causes of passing like accidents, illnesses, diseases, crime and old age, there are a load of lesser-known life risks lurking around us on earth. Sometimes, people encounter them without even realizing it. They make it out alive, and only afterwards, get to truly grasp the grave danger they were in. A few of these folks even take photos of what could have been their last moments.

Bored Panda has put together a list of truly terrifying times people had an unknowing brush with the end. From naive tourists taking selfies in a Chernobyl claw surrounded by dangerous levels of radiation, to people casually holding creepy crawlies that could send them 6 feet under in a matter of minutes… Some of these photographs might have you treading a lot more carefully the next time you walk out the door.

#1

We Found A Giant Round Today. Weighs 125 Lbs And Has The Markings 62-Tbt95 And U.s.s.a.f. Any Ideas What We’re Dealing With?

We Found A Giant Round Today. Weighs 125 Lbs And Has The Markings 62-Tbt95 And U.s.s.a.f. Any Ideas What We’re Dealing With?

I don't think carrying around unexploded ordnance is considered a very great choice.

Ok-Photograph6856 Report

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    #2

    The Guy That Mows My Lawn Sends Me Snake Pics When He Finds Them So I Can ID For Him. He Sends Me This Today

    The Guy That Mows My Lawn Sends Me Snake Pics When He Finds Them So I Can ID For Him. He Sends Me This Today

    It is a cottonmouth.

    I told him he’s insane and to not pick snakes up if he can’t ID them. Also he’s extremely lucky lol. Lord have mercy the man thought it was a ball python!!!

    TechiesMidOrFeed Report

    #3

    Casually Letting Your Kid Pick Up One Of The World’s Most Dangerous Creatures

    Casually Letting Your Kid Pick Up One Of The World’s Most Dangerous Creatures

    The_Mighty_Bird Report

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    The earth is filled with beautiful creatures, big and small, and it can be tempting to pick something up to take a closer look. But for the sake of your life, it's always best to err on the side of caution. Ask a guy known as 'Frank.' He was snorkeling in Egypt's Red Sea when he came across a colorful shell that he considered taking home as a souvenir.

    ​​"I thought I just found a very pretty seashell and was thinking about taking it home as a souvenir, but I noticed it's still alive, feeling some weight and movement inside, so I decided to at least take some pictures of it," he wrote on Reddit.

    Little did Frank know that his "souvenir" contained a toxin that can paralyze or even end a human life within a few short hours. The cone snail can take down its (smaller) prey in a matter of seconds.

    #4

    Just Why?!?

    Just Why?!?

    putting a very sharp crystal right where their airbag would pop out during a crash.

    Ok_Consideration_242 Report

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    #5

    Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now? (Traffic Lights Mixed With Red & Green Christmas Lights)

    Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now? (Traffic Lights Mixed With Red & Green Christmas Lights)

    WholeLog24 Report

    #6

    Bought Like 5000$ Worth Of Crystals And Rocks Of An Old Guy. He Told Me To Never Keep This Outside Of This Container. The Rock In Question Is Extremely Heavy For Its Size. What Could This Be

    Bought Like 5000$ Worth Of Crystals And Rocks Of An Old Guy. He Told Me To Never Keep This Outside Of This Container. The Rock In Question Is Extremely Heavy For Its Size. What Could This Be

    That's probably Uranium, you yutz! When the old rock guru dude tells you to keep it in the box, keep it in da box? It's just alpha particles, but you don't want a whole lot of bombardment over time...

    Awstoniscool , Perioscope Report

    It was only long after his trip that the man learned just how lucky he was to be alive. "I actually had no idea about that thing being potentially dangerous until months later when I randomly stumbled upon a picture of a very similar cone snail online, the texture was very distinctive, and I remembered that's what I held," he told DailyMail.com.

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    Frank then googled cone snails and the penny dropped. He shared a post online titled "How lucky I am to be still alive?" and included the photo of him holding the creature in his bare hands. Mortified netizens were quick to comment, with some warning him never to pick up anything in the sea again.

    #7

    What Is This? Dog Brought In From Outside

    What Is This? Dog Brought In From Outside

    it's rat bait. Get your dog to a vet immediately, take the bait with you. I hope your pup will be okay and didn't ingest too much. Some people are absolute evil and poison dogs on purpose, so I'm hoping that's not the case.

    alicekat Report

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    #8

    Wild Carrots? Found On The Beach Of Southern Zealand, Denmark

    Wild Carrots? Found On The Beach Of Southern Zealand, Denmark

    it's actually water hemlock, which is incredibly poisonous.

    c_biv_2201 Report

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    #9

    Tourists In Chernobyl, Sitting In An Excavator Claw Used After The Disaster. (It Has Dangerous Levels Of Radiation)

    Tourists In Chernobyl, Sitting In An Excavator Claw Used After The Disaster. (It Has Dangerous Levels Of Radiation)

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    The cone snail isn't the only dangerous creature lurking in the ocean. You might remember daredevil conservationist Steve Irwin. The Australian made a living recording his dangerous encounters with animals in the wild. He was known for his fearless escapades with crocodiles, snakes and other scary creatures that many of us wouldn't approach with a ten-foot pole.

    But in the end, it was a stingray that ended Irwin's life. The stingray's barb pierced his chest more than once, before swimming away and leaving him for dead. The "Crocodile Hunter," as he was fondly known, had been filming a documentary at the time of the shocking tragedy.

    #10

    How Lucky I Am To Be Still Alive? Red Sea, Egypt

    How Lucky I Am To Be Still Alive? Red Sea, Egypt

    This is a textile cone snail, Conus textile. All cone snails are venomous and this species is one of those known to be dangerous to humans. Accidents are rare, about 30 are known to have occurred among all cone snail species, but likely underreported. So yeah, it was a bad idea to just pick it up, especially underwater where it was very likely alive.

    AArdvarkPaws , JorikThePooh Report

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    #11

    24 Hours Underground , We Drank Mine Water

    24 Hours Underground , We Drank Mine Water

    Well, silver lining, you might get a disease named after you!

    Underground_1973 Report

    #12

    Found In The Florida Everglades

    Found In The Florida Everglades

    That is a puss caterpillar. It is a NOPE; DO NOT TOUCH bug. It’s bristles are venomous; it’s actually one of the most venomous insects in North America.

    mwhitmont , ChequeRoot Report

    Stingrays and cone snails are among dozens of venomous sea creatures. The act of injecting venom or toxins into a human or animal via a bite, puncture or sting is called envenomation. According to the Divers Alert Network (DAN), envenomation is "always due to direct contact with an animal (or parts of it like drifting jellyfish tentacles)." While envenomations are rare, they can be life-threatening.

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    "There are two possible mechanisms of injection: active, such as jellyfish or cone snails, or passive like lionfish or sea urchins," notes the DAN site. "Injuries typically occur during shore entries or exits, incidental contact or deliberate attempts to handle a specimen."

    #13

    Why Is This Hose Nailed To The Wall?

    Why Is This Hose Nailed To The Wall?

    That is a nail through a live gas line, that is super bad.

    Riivek Report

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    #14

    Petting The Animals

    Petting The Animals

    ds3101 Report

    #15

    Gifted A Candle Containing Minerals Which Produce Toxic Gas When Heated

    Gifted A Candle Containing Minerals Which Produce Toxic Gas When Heated

    prjctdiva , User Report

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    The words 'venom' and 'poison' are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Both mean a toxic chemical produced naturally by an animal. But the way they are delivered is not the same.

    Venom is introduced via a wound. Think of stingrays, cone snails or snakes, or any animal that uses its teeth, sting, spines or claws to inject its prey or protect itself. "Poison is different as there is no wound involved. It can be absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin, inhaled or ingested," explains Dr Ronald Jenner, a venom evolution expert at the Natural History Museum.

    Jenner has a simple way of telling the difference between the two: "If you bite it and you die it's poison, but if it bites you and you die, that's venom."

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

    #16

    Was Cleaning Webs Off My Porch…

    Was Cleaning Webs Off My Porch…

    And this lady just dropped herself down from my light fixture right next to my flip flopped foot. This is the BIGGEST black widow I’ve ever seen in person.

    HauntedSpiralHill Report

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    #17

    My Parents’ Breaker Box

    My Parents’ Breaker Box

    “It’s been fine since I shoved all that stuff in it.” -Parental Unit that’s responsible Redneck ingenuity at its finest. It’s been like this for at least 15 years. sigh Yes, it’s finally failing and being replaced. Yes, sparks fly at random times. Yes, I’m disappointed.

    Proper-Designer491 Report

    #18

    Snow Pinwheels! Natures Warning Sign Of Rising Avalanche Risk

    Snow Pinwheels! Natures Warning Sign Of Rising Avalanche Risk

    BC_Wanderer Report

    Fortunately, not all venoms and poisons are fatal to humans. Sometimes the substances are just used as a deterrent. Think hellishly painful but you'll live to tell the tale.

    According to the Natural History Museum, the bullet ant has one of the most painful stings of all insects. "The pain can last up to 24 hours, but a human victim is likely to walk away otherwise unharmed," reads the site.

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    Bees and wasps are another example. While they both sting and inject venom, the insects aren't dangerous to humans. Unless you're highly allergic and go into anaphylactic shock.

    #19

    Came Home To My Mom Boiling Bleach To Clean A Pan Of Some Burnt In Sugar, Creating A Highly Toxic Gas

    Came Home To My Mom Boiling Bleach To Clean A Pan Of Some Burnt In Sugar, Creating A Highly Toxic Gas

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    #20

    That Looks Terrifying

    That Looks Terrifying

    stephaniemain2 Report

    #21

    Round Metal Ball Found Whilst Digging Has A Hole In One Side, Very Heavy Easily 3kg

    Round Metal Ball Found Whilst Digging Has A Hole In One Side, Very Heavy Easily 3kg

    If there’s a hole in a cannonball it’s for a fuse to light the explosives inside. You should put that down immediately and potentially contact law enforcement about ordnance disposal

    RaedwaldRex , User Report

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    Back in the ocean, the box jellyfish produces one of the most potent venoms known to mankind. Some of them take less than three minutes to stop an adult's heart. You'll likely be long gone before any medical rescue personnel can respond.

    Miraculously, an Irish travel content creator narrowly escaped end after she was stung by a box jellyfish during a boat trip in the Philippines. The woman, known as Julie, was saved by an Australian nurse and doctor who happened to be on the boat at the time. However, almost a year after the incident, she says she has permanent nerve damage and ongoing gut issues because of the sting.

    #22

    What Happens To Potatoes After A Year In The Cellar

    What Happens To Potatoes After A Year In The Cellar

    Rotting vegetation in an unventilated space - it uses up all the oxygen in the air. If you see someone passed out in a confined space, never follow them in, call the fire department.

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    #23

    Unsupported/Shifted Load

    Unsupported/Shifted Load

    aicrooster Report

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    #24

    I Almost Fell Into A Sinkhole Under My Porch. I Caught Myself On The Edge Of The Hole, From My Chest Down Was Just Dangling Beneath Me. Below The Opening The Hole Is About 10’ Wide And 15’ Deep

    I Almost Fell Into A Sinkhole Under My Porch. I Caught Myself On The Edge Of The Hole, From My Chest Down Was Just Dangling Beneath Me. Below The Opening The Hole Is About 10’ Wide And 15’ Deep

    The hole extends to about the middle of my grill. These are not great pictures but it’s dark. I think that’s the foundation.

    Punk_Chachi Report

    #25

    Daughter Found These In A Graveyard

    Daughter Found These In A Graveyard

    Destroying angels are among the most toxic known mushrooms; both they and the closely related tragic caps (A. phalloides) contain amatoxins.

    KapowBlamBoom Report

    #26

    Need Help Removing Stains From My Fireplace

    Need Help Removing Stains From My Fireplace

    I don't know about cleaning the soot on the front but you might need to get your flue checked out or your chimney cleaned. Doesn't seem like you have adequate flow through your chimney.

    ferzbeefan Report

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    #27

    Anybody Know What Kinda Octopus Is This? Found Here In Kiana, Australia

    Anybody Know What Kinda Octopus Is This? Found Here In Kiana, Australia

    This guy holding a blue-ringed octopus. Blue-ringed octopuses, comprising the genus Hapalochlaena, are four extremely venomous species of octopus that are found in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans, from Japan to Australia.

    ferchomax Report

    #28

    The Baldest Tire I Have Ever Seen Just Rolled In. Its On Display In The Showroom Now

    The Baldest Tire I Have Ever Seen Just Rolled In. Its On Display In The Showroom Now

    Renegade00101 Report

    #29

    Cutting Holes Through Joist For Hvac?

    Cutting Holes Through Joist For Hvac?

    We are putting a new floor and contractor cut holes through joist?(not sure if I am using the right word) to connect hvac? Does this seem correct from structural integrity perspective?

    Dry_Rip8393 Report

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    #30

    My Parents Came Back Home To This. Almost Burned Their House Down With This Concave Mirror

    My Parents Came Back Home To This. Almost Burned Their House Down With This Concave Mirror

    willi_the_racer Report

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    #31

    Safe To Say I Switched Lanes Immediately After This Photo

    Safe To Say I Switched Lanes Immediately After This Photo

    ToastySpd Report

    #32

    My Husband Was Working In The Crawlspace Of Our 1901 Home And Almost Crawled Into This Uncovered Well

    My Husband Was Working In The Crawlspace Of Our 1901 Home And Almost Crawled Into This Uncovered Well

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    #33

    Taxi Ride To Airport

    Taxi Ride To Airport

    Does this count? I felt I was on the wrong side of a claymore mine the whole ride though the van may have been old enough not to have a passenger side airbag... Still...

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    #34

    Dude Accidentally Bought Something A Lot More Radioactive Than Expected

    Dude Accidentally Bought Something A Lot More Radioactive Than Expected

    iltby Report

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    #35

    What's This Dapper Little Guy My Friend Found In Coastal(Ish) North Carolina?

    What's This Dapper Little Guy My Friend Found In Coastal(Ish) North Carolina?

    Cuddling with a Red Velvet Ant.

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    #36

    Yesterday In Indi

    Yesterday In Indi

    makemyowngoodnews Report

    #37

    Dialysis Venous Chamber Missing A Filter That Prevents Blood Clots From Entering Patient’s Blood Stream Causing Stroke Or Heart Attack

    Dialysis Venous Chamber Missing A Filter That Prevents Blood Clots From Entering Patient’s Blood Stream Causing Stroke Or Heart Attack

    aidgon09 Report

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    #38

    The World's Most Dangerous Plant

    The World's Most Dangerous Plant

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    #39

    Aio BF Went To Sleep With Fan Heater On Full Power, On It's Back On The Bed With A Paper Bag On Top

    Aio BF Went To Sleep With Fan Heater On Full Power, On It's Back On The Bed With A Paper Bag On Top

    It was actually a brown amazon delivery bag, newspaper is just to show how it was left. He'd just passed out right next to it. Am I overreacting or could this have burnt our entire house down and k****d us both if i hadn't gone to check on him? This is not the first time something like this has happened.

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    #40

    Found This Little Guy In A Fender Well Today

    Found This Little Guy In A Fender Well Today

    The car technician who found this cute lil' guy in a wheel well, only to find out that it's an American dagger moth (which can cause some painful skin rashes when handled).

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    #41

    Anyone Who Works With Earth Knows The Dangers Associated With Improper Shoring And Excavation Types. Make Sure Your Loved Ones Are Safe From This Trend

    Anyone Who Works With Earth Knows The Dangers Associated With Improper Shoring And Excavation Types. Make Sure Your Loved Ones Are Safe From This Trend

    QuincyThePigBoy Report

    #42

    My Dad Found All These Red Mushrooms, As Far As I’m Aware This Bunch Is Poisonous. He Said That If You Boil Them Twice And Dry Them Off They’re Hallucinogenic?

    My Dad Found All These Red Mushrooms, As Far As I’m Aware This Bunch Is Poisonous. He Said That If You Boil Them Twice And Dry Them Off They’re Hallucinogenic?

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    #43

    Poor Man’s Car Lift To Find The Power Steering Leak

    Poor Man’s Car Lift To Find The Power Steering Leak

    capdee Report

    #44

    Found This Old Looking Bottle Of Picric Acid At The Back Of The Chemicals Rack

    Found This Old Looking Bottle Of Picric Acid At The Back Of The Chemicals Rack

    Extremely old bottle of picric acid, when dried up tends to explode.

    Oopsilon03 Report

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    #45

    $400 For A Night Airbnb Refuses To Turn Heat Above 58 Degrees

    $400 For A Night Airbnb Refuses To Turn Heat Above 58 Degrees

    Yes, this is actually dangerous! I'm surprised more people aren't pointing this out. You're 100% supposed to vent your range! Gas combustion byproducts (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc.) can be harmful to health. This is NOT healthy. If it's generating carbon monoxide, that's potentially dangerous! At a minimum, with perfect combustion, you're flooding the house with carbon dioxide. At modest levels, CO2 creates a "stuffy room" feeling, worsens concentration, performance, and sleep. Really high concentrations of CO2 can even be hazardous to health. If you're properly venting your range, you're sending most all gas combustion byproducts out, but you're bringing in cold makeup air. Hence, a gas range/oven does NOT work for heating. Someone may say they cook all the time without venting. That's not good, but what's over an order of magnitude worse is running all the burners overnight. I didn't used to vent properly while cooking, but after seeing air quality sensor readings from my own home, even when just boiling water, I've been a convert.

    Golden5StarMan , CobaltCaterpillar Report

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    #46

    Is This Raccoon Rabid? I Had To Move It And I Got Bit

    Is This Raccoon Rabid? I Had To Move It And I Got Bit

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    #47

    Yhese Weird Blue Creatures Washed Up On The Beach Let's Mess With Them For Likes

    Yhese Weird Blue Creatures Washed Up On The Beach Let's Mess With Them For Likes

    User Report

    #48

    Seems A Little Dangerous

    Seems A Little Dangerous

    SNewby Report

    #49

    World's Luckiest Man And World's Chillest Coral

    World's Luckiest Man And World's Chillest Coral

    User Report

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