OK, I know this is morbid, but I am curious. How long does someone's head survive after being beheaded, assuming that the beheading is almost instant, like a guillotine? Does everything go blank for that person instantly, or can they still see and hear what's going on for a number of seconds or minutes until they black out? I have no intention of ever trying this on myself or anyone else, but it's hard not to be curious.
2007-07-01 06:08:31 · 17 answers · asked by Motikem 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
I've gotten a few answers that say someone blacks out immediately, others say a few seconds, others say even longer. Maybe someone has a definitive answer or some proof to back up their assertions? I tend to think that the oxygen supply in the brain lasts at least a few seconds. With so many different answers, I can't tell what the actual factual answer will be!
2007-07-01 06:20:10 · update #1
And by the way, by proof I don't mean "try this at home". There has to be a newspaper article or medical journal that documents this somewhere...
2007-07-01 06:26:56 · update #2
6 seconds, AWESOME!
2007-07-02 09:56:32 · answer #1 · answered by R. Gyle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is an account by the artist Antoine Wiertz who had exactly the same question. He was put into a hypnotic trance underneath a guillotine as someone was being beheaded and was ordered to project his mind into that of the unfortunate victim to document his final thoughts. The account is fascinating; you should be able to find it online somewhere!
2007-07-02 16:36:30 · answer #2 · answered by Lili M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a "History of the Guillotine" documentary and from it:
Antoine Lavoisier, the French chemist who lived between 1743 and 1794, was caught up in the revolution and faced beheading. He asked friends to observe closely as he would continue blinking as long as possible after being killed. He was reported to have blinked for 15 seconds after decapitation.
2007-07-01 16:55:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Until there is no oxygen left in the brain,
usually about 1 to 10 seconds as a
human being.
People can mouth words after
decapitation, they can't use sound
as all the oxygen and suction cannot
be used from the lungs, you know why!
2007-07-01 13:37:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Only until the oxygen supply in the brain runs out. There have been several experiments on this with the victim winking one eye as he had agreed to do as long as he could hear and was aware of his surroundings. I think the most noted of these was Voltaire, if Im not mistaken.
2007-07-01 13:13:23 · answer #5 · answered by bill45colt 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Geez - of all the things to be curious about. I agree, that IS pretty morbid.
All I know is that being beheaded is at the top of the list of horrible ways to die. For the sake of anyone who meets such a horrible fate (and for their family and friends who loved them), I would hope death would come in an instant.
2007-07-01 13:18:26 · answer #6 · answered by loveblue 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are reports of guillotined heads apparently trying to speak and actually appearing to be mouthing words for several seconds after decapitation.
2007-07-01 13:23:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have wondered about the same thing and would imagine that the sudden loss of blood would render such an unfortunate person unconscious immediately. At least I would hope so.
2007-07-01 13:15:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have always heard up to 7 seconds. you can still see and hear, but are in shock...
2007-07-01 14:16:15 · answer #9 · answered by calvin d 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes a few seconds. Watch the movie--'Curdled'.
2007-07-01 13:14:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe one victim had time to mouth 'anyone got a needle and thread?'
2007-07-02 04:30:40 · answer #11 · answered by dreary 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋