# 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 (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

* Hon. Henry William John, later 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.

## 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 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 botched hanging for train robbery
* Eva Dugan (1930) – decapitated in botched hanging for murder
* Patsy Cline (1963) – decapitated when airplane crashed
* Denny Keith (1964) – decapitated in racing car crash
* Charles Bassett (1966) – decapitated in crash of T-38 jet aircraft
* Les Ritchey (1966) – decapitated in drag racing crash
* Ken Kotalac (1969) – decapitated in drag bike racing crash
* Rocky Marciano (1969) – decapitated when his airplane crashed
* Jim Croce (1973) – decapitated when airplane crashed
* François Cevert (1973) – cut in half in racing car crash at Watkins Glen International
* Helmut Koinigg (1974) – decapitated in racing car crash in the 1974 United States Grand Prix
* Vic Morrow and Myca Dinh Le (1982) – decapitated by crashing helicopter during film shoot for Twilight Zone: The Movie
* 3 members of the crew of Piper PA-28-181 Archer at the Cerritos mid-air collision (1986)
* Doug Vermeer (1987) – decapitated in car racing crash
* Dave Prater (1988) – decapitated in high-speed car crash
* Jim Brouk (1990) – decapitated in car racing crash
* Randy Hill (1993) – decapitated in 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 racing car crash at Charlotte Motor Speedway
* Eldon Hoke (1997) – decapitated by a train
* Randy Fry (2004) – decapitated by a great white shark
* Robert Lees (2004) – decapitated by murderer
* Katie Flynn (2005) – decapitated in car crash
* Asia Leeshawn Ferguson (2008) – decapitated after being struck by the Batman: The Ride roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia
* Caleb Schwab (2016) – Caleb, the 10-year-old son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, was decapitated while sliding down the world's tallest water slide (Verrückt) at Schlitterbahn Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas.