Cheating Death

[mx250]

I thought this was an interesting article. The study was small, I would like to see what the results are if a larger population was sampled. But it is a tribute to some of the survival mechanisms in humans. With all the death and destruction we see on the news, it is easy to think that we are ill-destined. But the fact is, that we are surivors much more then we give ourselves credit for.

The average Brit will narrowly dodge death five times during their lifetime, a new mortality report has revealed.
Common close encounters include being involved in a potentially fatal car crash - something that will happen to 40 percent of us - and surviving a high voltage electric shock (32%).

Other escapes include almost getting struck by lightning (36%) or living through a serious natural disaster including high impact earthquakes or raging floods (29%).

The study of over 1,000 people also found 23 percent of people think they owe their lives to others normally because they have been pulled back from stepping out in front of a bus

I stole this from another forum,I thought it was interesting and it would be sure to stir up some stories and maybe some sage philosophical comments and discussion.

I have never thought of life and death in this way. I know I've had a few 'near ones' but never totaled them or thought of how they compared to others and their experiences. On private reflection, without any intent to publish or engage in a pissing competition, I know I've had a few 'near deaths' on bikes and dirt bikes - situations where slight differences would have ended in sure death. All of mine have been private experiences without any collaborating eyewitnesses (such is the nature of much of my riding). I can think of at least four occasions I briefly stared death in the face. What about you guys ?

[jimson]

I got married  jimson

[jerry]

When I was about 15 or 16 I successfully crossed Whitehorse Road in Box Hill making a bee line for Bert Flood Bultaco to check out the new "Pomeroy's". My mate Andy Allen was with me. As I said I had the "eyes on" and walked straight out across the service road in front of Floodies shop. I didn't see the car approaching from my left at high speed. Andy did and grabbed my collar and pulled me back the car clipping my foot. Without a doubt he saved me from death or severe injury. I don't think of it often these days, but MX250 your post reminded me. You think about what would happened if................Cheers Jerry

[EML]

Hey Jerry that wasn't the first time a Bultaco nearly killed someone and it wont be the last.
Now if you want near death experiences, talk to a mx sidecar passenger, that'll keep you going for a few hours at least./lol

[Nathan S]

Depends on what you call a close encounter, really...
I can think of a few times in the road car where I've avoided a big crash, but I don't really consider them to be close calls. I mean, every single time you pass a car on the highway you could argue that it is a close call - if either car was a few feet to its right and you'd have a big crash...

That said, the times that have made me appreciate my own mortality:
Big long, unintended front wheelie on the DT250, 1991-ish.
Spinning my road car completely unexpectedly, 2002 (not that I was in any danger of death, but it really wasa big wake-up call).
Canberra bushfires 2003.
Princes Hwy, north of Ulladulla, 2003
Nearly into the trees at ~140kph in the rally car, 2007.

Funnily enough, the actual crashes (rally car, road car, dirt bike, pushbike) haven't been the wake-up calls like the above list.

[jerry]

EML once and only once I was the passenger on a side car with Graeme Treasurer on a practice day. 1 lap and was begging him to stop I have never been so scared in all my life, Talk about square peg in round hole! I have nothing but respect and awe for those who choose to swing. Cheers Jerry PS Here's a weird thing. Only a couple of months ago I was telling a workmate about the experience ( I'm still scarred mentally! ) and we realised that she had actually gone out with Graemes son for a while. Small world.................

[mx250]

I didn't want to be argumentative but I think some situations are pretty clear. The example that Jerry gives is a good one. If Jerry's mate hadn't been there it is more likely he would have died than survived. Interesting to note that in the survey 23% of those interviewed had been saved from the same mistake.

One of the occasions in my non-motorcycling experience is that when I was 16 I was shocked by a live 240 volt lead. It was shear arse that I was squatting at the time and the wire touched me on the thigh. The resulting muscle convulsion spat me out the garages door about 15 metres.  I think if I had picked up the lead the convulsion would have had me hanging on to the 240 volts until I died - which I believe is the classic way people get electrocuted.  

Similarly I can think of lots of situation in life and my motorcycling I was in grave but relatively controlled danger. But there are also few where I know I was slit seconds from death. The interesting reflection of the survey is that near death experiences are not confined to dangerous sports and occupation. We all are mere mortals and can die unexpectedly in so many ways (ask the five who drowned rock fishing on mother's day).  

A conclusion is, maybe we are not as crazy as some people would have us believe. It would seem from the survey mundane people doing mundane things will have five near death experiences in a lifetime. I don't know if racing/riding bike is that more dangerious maybe because we know we are in danger and are more alert more cautious because of it.

[jerry]

Road toll in Vic in early 70's 1034 in 1 year. Now sadly usually approx 350 pa. Express those 2 figures as % of cars on the road then and now. I would argue that it's very safe to drive on the road these days in particular if you consider (as Nathan alludes to) that we as a society are quite happy to drive in the opposite direction to each other with maybe 1.5 meters between vehicles. Imagine if you will you were driving across a salt flat at 100 kph and a vehicle coming the other way missed you by a meter or so. You would be going on about "what a near miss for days". Oh and here's another thing. Have you ever noticed when cars leave the road they usually hit a tree. What if we cut all the trees down for 50 meters either side of the road, mulched them up and turned them into the enviro version of a gravel trap. Ramblings of an old man.................Cheers Jerry

[jimson]

G'day viewers, I thought I'd re hatch this thread...
When I was a little one, my Nan gave me some house keys to play with, so being inquisitive I pulled the plug out of the power point and managed to insert the key giving me a kick across the room. On my 21st birthday my father gave me the key lol jimson

[80-85 husky]

LOL...plenty of punters never got their keys...mate (Who has dodged death more than all of us put together) was about to cross a small pedestrian bridge over a creek in gippsland somewhere saw two women who were half way across get zapped by lightning with one fatally...he said that was the worst close call he had.