Student Article
Six Terrible Inventions That Killed Their Creators
Inventor (noun): A person who creates new things.
Stuntman (noun): A person who performs dangerous tricks.
Shock-absorbent (adjective): Able to take in the force from a hit, bump, or impact.
Prototype (noun): A first or early version of something new, like an invention or product, that people use to test an idea and see how it works.
Radium (noun): A special kind of metal that glows in the dark and comes from deep underground.
Parachute (noun): A device used to slow down a fall from a high place.
Inventors create new things to help people, but sometimes their inventions can be dangerous. Here are six inventors who died because of their own creations:
Karel Soucek
Czech stuntman Karel Soucek designed a custom barrel and used it to survive a fall over Niagara Falls. He tried a new design: a shock-absorbent barrel. He was dropped from the roof of the Houston Astrodome into a tank of water, but instead of hitting the water, his barrel hit the rim of the tank and he died.
Henry Smolinski
Henry Smolinksi and his fellow engineer Harold Blake built a prototype of a flying car by combining existing wings from a plane to the body of a car. They survived the first flight with an emergency landing. They then tried to fly again but it crashed moments after take-off, killing them both.
Thomas Midgley Jr.
This American chemist’s inventions were very harmful. He created CFCs, a group of chemicals that badly affected the ozone layer. He also invented leaded petrol, but he died from a totally different invention. He was disabled and invented a system of ropes and pulleys to lift him from his bed, but died when he became entangled.
Sabin Arnold von Sochocky
Ukrainian chemist Sabin Arnold von Sochocky invented glow-in-the-dark paint using radium. Ultimately, von Sochocky died from exposure to the chemical.
Franz Reichelt
Franz Reichelt designed a suit that could be used as a parachute by pilots. He first tested the suit on dummies, and then tested it himself by jumping from the lower level of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The design failed, and he fell to his death in a matter of seconds.
Henry Winstanley
In 1696, after losing two ships off the coast, Henry Winstanley designed the first lighthouse. He was so sure it was safe, he stayed there during the Great Storm of 1703. The lighthouse was destroyed and he was never found.
These tales showcase that inventing new things can be risky, but inventors keep trying to make the world better.
© Dr. Claire Asher / Our Media
Inventor (noun): A person who creates new things.
Stuntman (noun): A person who performs dangerous tricks.
Shock-absorbent (adjective): Able to take in the force from a hit, bump, or impact.
Prototype (noun): A first or early version of something new, like an invention or product, that people use to test an idea and see how it works.
Radium (noun): A special kind of metal that glows in the dark and comes from deep underground.
Parachute (noun): A device used to slow down a fall from a high place.