List of people who were decapitated

The following is a list of people who were decapitated, arranged alphabetically by country or region and with date of decapitation. These individuals lost their heads accidentally. This includes animal-related deaths. A list of people who lost their heads through execution or murder can be found at List of people who were beheaded.

Australia

• Shirley Ann Durdin (1985) – Durdin was decapitated by a great white shark while snorkeling in Port Lincoln, South Australia; she was eaten alive
• Kerry McLoughlin (1987) – Decapitated by a saltwater crocodile at Cahills Crossing, Northern Territory

Argentina

• Oscar Lofeudo (1998) – Decapitated in a TC pre-race qualifying in Rafaela circuit; Lofeudo was then co-driver along with Raúl Petrich (driver who also died).
• Daniel Ponce (2001) – Decapitated in a pick-up race, in San Martín, Mendoza.
• Matías Viapiano (2003) – Decapitated in a karting race in Estación Aráoz, Tucumán.

Chile

• José Larenas Miranda (1980) – decapitated by a great white shark.

France

French Republic

• Jean Larivière (1951) – decapitated in racing car crash in the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Gerry Birrell (1973) – decapitated in racing car crash

Germany

Modern Germany

• Csaba Kesjár (1988) - decapitated in a German Formula 3 race, at the Norisring.

Great Britain

• Henry Byng, 4th Earl of Strafford (1899) – decapitated by a train at Potters Bar railway station
• Donald Campbell (1967) – decapitated in crash of his hydroplane Bluebird K7 during world water speed record attempt in Coniston Water.
• Simon Brown from East Grinstead was killed leaned from a train window when travelling on the Gatwick Express on Sunday 7 August 2016.

Netherlands/Belgium

• Chris Bristow (1960) – decapitated in racing car crash in the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix.
• Alain Vincx (1987) – decapitated in car racing stunt challenge at Circuit Zandvoort.

Palestine

• Ismail al-Ghoul (2024) – decapitated by an Israeli airstrike.

Papua New Guinea

• Melas Mero (2014) – decapitated by a saltwater crocodile

Philippines

• Unnamed girl (2009) – decapitated by a saltwater crocodile

Portugal

• Paulo Jorge Caracitas (2000) – decapitated while kart racing, when the scarf he was using got stuck in the drive shaft.

Romania

• Nicolae Labiș (1956) – fell off of a tram while going to a friend's house and was decapitated when his head hit the pavement between the two trams in University Square, Bucharest.

United States

• Tom Ketchum (1901) – accidentally decapitated in New Mexico Territory in a botched hanging for train robbery
• Eva Dugan (1930) – decapitated in a botched hanging for murder
• Denny Keith (1964) – decapitated in racing car crash
• Charles Bassett (1966) – decapitated in a crash of a T-38 jet aircraft
• Les Ritchey (1966) – decapitated in a drag racing crash
• Ken Kotalac (1969) – decapitated in a drag bike racing crash
• Rocky Marciano (1969) – decapitated when his airplane crashed
• Jim Croce (1973) – decapitated when his airplane crashed
• Helmut Koinigg (1974) – decapitated in a racing car crash in the 1974 United States Grand Prix after his racing car went under the sharp guardrails
• Boris Sagal (1981) – decapitated by the tail rotor blades of a helicopter
• Vic Morrow and Myca Dinh Le (1982) – decapitated by a crashing helicopter during film shoot for '
• Three members of the crew of Piper PA-28-181 Archer at the Cerritos mid-air collision (1986)
• Doug Vermeer (1987) – decapitated in a car racing crash
• Dave Prater (1988) – decapitated in a high-speed car crash
• Jim Brouk (1990) – decapitated in a car racing crash
• Randy Hill (1993) – decapitated in a stunt car challenge; in a botched attempt at a mid-air collision, Hill's car was too low, its roof was sheared off, and Hill's head was crushed
• Russell Phillips (1995) – decapitated in a racing car crash at Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Eldon Hoke (1997) – decapitated by a train
• Randy Fry (2004) – decapitated by a great white shark
• Katie Flynn (2005) – decapitated in a car crash
• Asia Leeshawn Ferguson (2008) – decapitated after being struck by the roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia
• Caleb Schwab (2016) – the 10-year-old son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, decapitated while sliding down the world's tallest water slide (Verrückt) at Schlitterbahn Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas

References