History logo
Content warning
This story may contain sensitive material or discuss topics that some readers may find distressing. Reader discretion is advised. The views and opinions expressed in this story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Vocal.

Why is being burned alive considered one of the worst ways to die?

If you've ever experienced the excruciating pain of third-degree burns, you can imagine the agony of being engulfed in flames. In this narrative, we'll explore why burning alive is considered one of the worst ways to die. 💀😭🔥

By InfoPublished 3 years ago • 6 min read
Worst Ways to Die: Burning 💀😭🔥

If you've ever experienced the excruciating pain of third-degree burns, you can imagine the agony of being engulfed in flames. In this narrative, we'll explore why burning alive is considered one of the worst ways to die. 💀😭🔥

  • Rouen, France, on the 30th of May 1431, witnessed a tragic event that unfolded before the eyes of its inhabitants. A 19-year-old girl named Joan of Arc was unjustly accused of heresy, witchcraft, and deceit. Although the first two accusations were baseless, the charge of pride and guilt remained. The soldiers led Joan to the pyre, where she would meet her horrifying fate.
  • As the flames engulfed the pile of wood beneath her, Joan's delicate feet grazed the scorching boards. The intensity of the fire intensified, enveloping her ankles like the venomous tongue of a viper. Within seconds, she was consumed by the cleansing fire, a hellish inferno designed to eradicate her enemies. The skin on her face melted away, and her life was extinguished.
  • It is natural to be horrified by such a gruesome death. Most of us have experienced the pain of getting too close to a flame, even if it was just singeing our fingertips on a grill. However, what Joan endured was far beyond any normal encounter with fire. You might be wondering about the excruciating pain she felt while standing amidst the raging inferno. How long does it take to burn to death? How does it kill you? How deep must the burns be to cause death? Is survival possible in such circumstances? All these questions will be answered in due course.
  • Firstly, it is important to clarify that Joan of Arc did not die from burning directly; it was the suffocating smoke that claimed her life. The Cardinal of Winchester, witnessing that parts of Joan's body still bore some resemblance to her, ordered her to be burned again. He then realized that certain organs stubbornly remained intact and ordered a third round of burning. Up until then, he believed the purification process was incomplete. The trial itself was a gross miscarriage of justice, but that is a story for another time.
  • The method of execution by burning alive dates back to ancient times and was once practiced in nearly every corner of the world. The Romans reported that the Carthaginians performed sacrificial burnings of young individuals. While this may sound like Roman propaganda to vilify their enemies, modern archaeologists have substantiated these claims. The Druids of ancient Gaul, according to the Romans, were also known for their horrific sacrifices, possibly rivaling even the Romans in brutality.
  • One term you may have heard before is the "Wicker Man," which refers to a multi-layered sacrificial execution. Innocent individuals would be placed inside a giant basket, their bodies entwined within the limbs of statues. The entire structure would then be set ablaze, accompanied by agonizing screams. Although some doubt the accuracy of the Roman accounts, stories of stake executions abound.
  • During the witch trials in Europe from 1450 to 1750, an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 women lost their lives, many of them burned at the stake. In medieval England, women could be subjected to this gruesome fate for crimes such as counterfeiting, spousal murder, or even insulting their superiors. People would gather to witness these public spectacles, relishing in the screams of the accused. It should be noted that men faced a different fate, typically being hanged, drawn, and quartered. Burning was considered a more "polite" approach for women, as the British deemed it impolite to subject them to the latter punishment.
  • While the methods described so far may seem unimaginably cruel, there are even worse ways to die. In general, when a fire is lit, the victim has a brief moment to utter a few words before the flames consume them. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, accused of treason and heresy, spoke his last words, "Lord Jesus, take my soul. I saw heaven open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God," before the fire consumed him. Another British heretic, Richard Snell, endured an agonizing death as his executioner surrounded him with straw, gunpowder, and tar. As the flames grew higher and the smoke engulfed him, he cried out, "God bless me." His screams echoed for a minute or two before silence settled.
  • In 1726, Catherine Hayes, an Englishwoman involved in her husband's murder, met her end at the stake. In her case, suffocation should have been the cause of death, as often happens, but the fire was ignited too quickly. Her cries and lamentations filled the air. Janet Horne, a Scottish woman accused of witchcraft, suffered a similar fate in 1727. She was said to have turned her daughter into a flying horse, prompting her neighbors to accuse her. She was arrested, tarred, and burned. Such deaths were truly horrific, and it is important to note that many of these victims were not heretics, traitors, or criminals. In the case of witches, who did not exist then or now, thousands of innocent women perished in the flames.
  • It was considered a point of contention that women were burned while men were hanged for similar crimes but not for treason. Some argued that burning was less severe than hanging. When Margaret Sullivan was burned at the stake in England in 1788 for counterfeiting coins, The Times criticized the act as inhumane, stating that burning a woman was beyond a joke. Others deemed it a disgrace to the country's enlightened sensibilities. The last woman to be burned in Britain met her fate a year later.
  • The severity of death by burning depends on the size of the fire. If the fire is relatively small, the experience is excruciatingly dreadful. Usually, the lower body does not burn quickly, and while the area may still hurt, the flames continue their upward climb. In most cases, suffocation precedes death by burning, often within a matter of minutes. Strangely enough, inhaling a large amount of smoke can be the best outcome, as it fills the lungs and prevents further agony. However, the initial contact of flames on the skin must be unimaginably painful. While we know this to be true, let us explore the evidence.
  • When a person dies in a fire, the soft tissues of their body contract. The skin breaks, muscles and fat shrink, causing the body's joints to bend. Hence, a person who perishes in flames often assumes a boxing stance, a phenomenon known as "boxing" in forensic terms. However, as evident from Joan of Arc's story, bodies are not completely reduced to ashes. Some bones burn longer than others, requiring intense heat to achieve full cremation.
  • What if someone were burned all over but managed to survive? In such cases, death can occur within days due to the extensive burns. A notable example is Jan Palach, a Czech student who set himself on fire in 1969 to protest the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. He was swiftly taken to the hospital after being rescued from the public square. Although he remained conscious and aware, his ability to breathe was severely compromised. He succumbed to his injuries a few days later. This type of death, arguably worse than being engulfed in towering flames, highlights the horrifying nature of burning.
  • To truly understand the worst way to die, we must listen to the experiences of those who have survived or witnessed such events firsthand. While many victims of burning are quickly rendered unconscious, there are cases where individuals have miraculously survived and regained good health. One such incident involved a young woman trapped in a car that was hit head-on by a drunk driver in Texas in 1999. The fire slowly consumed the vehicle, subjecting her to indescribable suffering.

    • Thank you so much for viewing our narrative today! We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

    And don’t forget to subscribe to us for new narratives, probably every day. We appreciate your support and interest. Have a wonderful day! 😊

    NarrativesMedievalEventsGeneralPlacesWorld HistoryFiguresAnalysisAncient

    About the Creator

    Info

    Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.

    Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed.

    Subscribe For Free

    Reader insights

    Comments

    There are no comments for this story

    Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

    Sign in to comment
      Written by Info