“Ow, fuck!”
With family at his bedside, a nurse administered a morphine injection – the prick of the needle startled Roald Dahl and these were his actual last words. The popular children’s author passed away at the age of 74 in John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford from a rare cancer of the blood.
“It matters not, man; God hath many things in store for us. And I know many means to do her Majesty good service and to make us rich..”
A hero to some, a pirate to others, this is reportedly a rallying speech he delivered shortly before dying from dysentery aboard his ship off the coast of Portobelo, Panama. Before his demise, Francis Drake asked to be dressed in full body armour, and was buried at sea in a lead-lined coffin a few miles off the coastline, he was 56 years old.
“No courthouses, but okay, let’s go.”
Marvin Lee Aday, better known by the stage name Meat Loaf, spoke these last words during the final days of his life to daughter Amanda. She had told him to “get strong” so he could walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. The singer and actor passed away at home in Nashville Tennessee at the age of 74, no official cause of death was released but he had reportedly been ill with COVID-19.
“What is this thing I’m feeling, I’m going to sleep now.”
The martial artist and actor spoke these final words to colleague Betty Ting before taking a painkiller and lying down for a nap. Bruce Lee never awoke from the nap – an autopsy would later conclude that he died from cerebral edema due to a reaction to compounds present in the painkiller. On the discovery of his unresponsive body Lee was brought to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon Hong Kong but declared dead on arrival at the age of 32.
“I’m tired of fighting.. I do not want to fight anymore..”
Erik Weisz, known professionally as Harry Houdini, delivered these deathbed words to his brother Tanch, just before passing away in Detroit’s Grace Hospital. Aged 52, the famous escapologist and illusionist died from peritonitis due to a ruptured appendix.
“Let’s have a really good red wine tonight.”
The psychiatrist and psychoanalyst spoke these final words, expressing a desire for a drink of red wine, before dying at his home in Küsnacht Switzerland. Carl Jung passed away “in great peace” after experiencing heart and circulatory issues, he was 85 years old.
“I don’t age. I level up.”
The martial artist and actor posted this humorous birthday message on Instagram just nine days before passing away at the age of 86. Chuck Norris was hospitalized in Hawaii after experiencing a sudden medical emergency and shortly afterwards died peacefully surrounded by his family.
“I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share; it is time to go. I will do it elegantly.”
The famous theoretical physicist died from internal bleeding caused by a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. He was offered surgery which would have extended his life but refused and this was his response. Albert Einstein passed away in Princeton Hospital New Jersey he was 76 years old.
“There will be another great player for Brazil.”
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by the nickname Pelé, spoke these last words on his sick bed before his demise at the age of 82.
Regarded by many as the greatest soccer player ever, he passed away at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in São Paulo. The cause of death was due to multiple organ failure, a complication resulting from his battle with colon cancer.
“Kiss me… hug me tight.”
The pioneer of heavy metal music and lead vocalist for the band Black Sabbath said these final words to wife Sharon on his deathbed. John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne died from a heart attack at his home in Buckinghamshire with family by his side, he was 76 years old.
