40+ Moments Seconds Before Disaster Struck

By Louise P

“Hold my beer” is the inevitable start to either an epic triumph or a painful failure. In the following exhibits, it is more of the latter. Seconds before disaster struck some unfortunate person; there was someone around who was lucky enough to catch these moments on camera. There is something poetic about the way these photos have us holding our breath, wishing for a different outcome, but deep down, we can see what is about to happen. We have all wanted to freeze time, but these photos are the closest thing we will get to that. So, hold on to your beer, get away from the pool, and fasten any loose nuts and bolts because things are about to get crazy!

Run Like the Wind

So, Jesus could walk on water, but have you heard of José that could run on water? We are pretty sure he also didn’t know he could do this. But if it takes an angry bull hot on your heels to discover this ability, then go right ahead!

Image Courtesy of Imgur/ themidgetking

No one in the photo looks like they were about to help the poor guy out either. But if you want to partake in a cruel and unnecessary sport like bull running, you better believe it, but you won’t see us coming to your rescue either.

That’s a Bullseye

One of our favorite games as kids was playing cops and robbers, or the less PC version, cowboys and Indians. Nerf guns were blazing, couches turned into fortresses, and it was each man for himself. We remember it like it was yesterday.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ JewChooTrain89

Some adults just can’t let go of those fond memories and try to recreate the magic. It is all fun and games till someone loses an eye (we sound just like our mothers now). Unfortunately, this guy came a little too close to that reality.

Have Your Cake and Eat It

Ozzy Osborne bit the head off of a bat, The Red Hot Chili Peppers wore nothing but socks at a show, and Jimi Hendrix lit his guitar on fire. Now that’s what we call rock ‘n roll. Then we have modern-day dance DJ Steve Aoki.  Steve throws cakes. How very sensible.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ krilled

Unfortunately, this isn’t much of a deterrent for the basic girl always climbing on her BF’s shoulders and blocking the view. It is more of an invitation, actually! This is a split second before said cake hits said basic girl to the sound of “Cake Face.”

Roller Derp

The iconic image of ladies with epic perms, high-cut swimsuits, and roller skates cruising effortlessly down Venice Beach promenade is pretty fantastic. Old school blond babes like Farah Fawcett and Olivia Newton-John in their white skates come to mind.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ STORM55487

Then there is this less than proficient individual trying to reimagine such an iconic picture. Unfortunately, she is going down in history for less ideal reasons. Her epic fail was captured a moment before she hit the floor, and we assume it wasn’t a soft landing.

Someone Call a Priest

What we have here, friends is a scene from the yet unreleased box office belly-flop: The Exorcism of Calamity Jane. It was at the annual family mud wrestling day where everyone first realized; something isn’t quite right with aunt Jane…

Image Courtesy of Pinterest/ receitatop.org

Kudos to the photographer who risked life and limb to stand in the splash zone to capture this crazy moment. It looks like most of the mud has been splashed out already, so auntie Jane over here is going to hit the ground hard.

Take Me Out at The Ball Game

Being a spectator is almost as dangerous as being in the game. If a rogue bat isn’t hitting you, you are at risk of the top left man’s gum falling on your head! Let’s just hope that bat hits someone with the round end.

Image Courtesy of Pinterest/controversial.com

The splintered end might just take someone’s eye out! The lady in the yellow looks just about ready to stand up and call the manager. “I was placed in an unsafe seating area, and I feel personally victimized.” Sit down, Karen!

Wickedly Stupid

This is the 8th installment of the popular Potter series; Harry Potter and the Empty Beer Keg. Production has been halted on the count of a critical cast member breaking his neck by jumping out of a window on a broom.

Image Courtesy of SGXL.nl

Even though this might make an epic photo, there are way too many things that can go wrong for our liking. For starters, there is a giant boulder below him! Good luck getting that stick out of your butt after this, buddy!

Not All Dogs are Created Equally

It’s not just humans who fall victim to disastrous stunts, this poor puppy got his fair share of internet humiliation too. He forgot how to dog for a second and decided to stop a Frisbee with his face rather than his mouth.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ ozone_one

It’s ok little dude; you will get it next time! (We are pretty sure he won’t, but don’t tell him that) Maybe, for now, you should stick to chasing your tail and leave the Frisbee catching to the real pros.

Physics 101

We aren’t sure where this guy learned about science, but according to us, gravity is a very real force, and this poor soul will feel its effects sooner rather than later. It doesn’t seem like his first chainsaw rodeo, though.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ Piranhamonkey

The way he nonchalantly balances on the ladder with a deadly weapon/tool in his hand is frightening enough. Add in his total disregard for logic, and we have a disaster on our hands! At least wear a helmet next time, please!

How to Get Kicked Out of a Wedding

This is definitely not what the bride had in mind when she asked for a bridal shower! By the disheveled look of the groom, it was a night to remember, but this bride probably wants to forget this final parting.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ crazy_woo

Luckily wedding photographers are quick with the trigger and always keeping a watchful eye on events and guests to catch moments like these. Luckily, it was at the end of the night, so the happy couple can now go clean off in their honeymoon suite together.

Luck is in the Eye of the Beholder

Four-leaf clovers are the epitome of good luck. These rare beauties are said to carry the four good omens: faith, hope, love, and the most coveted, luck. But for this poor shamrock picker, the luck did not last long, or at all.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ abusivecat

The only thing lucky about this photo is the fact that they were able to capture this split-second moment before their day got turned upside down. Perhaps a Frisbee to the face means you are going to win the lottery or something?

Wrong Hole in One

This is actually the inspiration for the Happy Madison Productions Intro, you know, the one where the golf ball hits the camera screen? Well done to the lady for getting her ball out of the sand trap, though! That is no easy feat.

Image Courtesy of Flickr/ konderminator

The average golf ball travels more than 90 miles per hour, so yelling “fore!” wouldn’t have helped this camera person much. Hopefully, the camera shielded their face, and they didn’t have a nasty bump on their head the next day!

Laser Focused

Cats are generally aloof and on their own mission. But whip out some catnip or a laser, and you have them in the palm of your hand. But a good rule of thumb is to keep the laser pointed at a wall or down a corridor.

Image Courtesy of Photosight/ David D.

Not a part of squishy flesh where cat claws can do some serious damage! This poor girl is blissfully unaware of the pain that is soon to follow. We hope she repaid the photographer with an equally devious sneak attack.

Ice Ice baby

The year is 2003. You and your buddies head to the ice rink, looking to pick up some chicks. You are looking fly with your backward caps and sweatshirts, and your skating skills are pretty on par. But here comes Eugene…

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ TRone33

Always ruining it for everybody! With one fell swoop, he takes out your whole crew and leaves you all fumbling to your feet on the ice. Luckily someone captured it on their Sony 8mp camera so that you can laugh about it in the future.

When You Order a Bike Off Wish

This guy was looking pretty fly for a hot minute, but then he decided to pull an ill-fated stoppie. (For the motorbike novices, that is when you pop a wheelie on your front wheel, not for the faint of heart!)

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ throatfrog

But this budget bike decided it wasn’t having any of this. Snap! That is not a sound you want to hear when in this precarious position. The look on his face tells us he is feeling great regret for not wearing a helmet. Hopefully, he lived to tell the tale!

This Party Is Lit

What sounds better than a costume party with lots of booze, bikes, and a BBQ pit? What could possibly go wrong? Famous last words… You can already see the pained expression on the poor guy’s face before he hits the ground.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ InternetWeakGuy

When this guy decided to put on his yellow cape, we are pretty sure he didn’t anticipate his evening ending in the emergency room. We wonder which of the burn wounds, broken arm, or bleeding gashes are going to hurt more?

How to Make a Unicycle

Someone should really tell this kid that’s not how you “pop a wheelie.” It is a miracle this kid’s dad was able to capture this photo, but it will be even more miraculous if he can walk away from this with his face intact!

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ future_career

These little trick bikes may seem harmless, but there is never a reason not to wear a helmet! What happens next is going to give a whole new meaning to “head over heels.” Or shall we say, head over wheels…

Instant regret

We guess boys will be boys, no matter their age. We just find it pretty stupid that they would put the largest member of their crew on the bike. In this scenario, you would want the least amount of weight crashing down on you.

Image Courtesy of dailypicksandflicks

Evil Knievel is turning around in his grave by the sight of stupidity like this.  We bet the guy that got chosen to take the photo instead of participating in the stunt is feeling pretty lucky right about now! The poor guy on the left is seeing his life flash before his eyes.

Slip- ‘n-slide

We aren’t nature experts or anything, but we are pretty sure that smooth rocks and water are not a good place to be caught off guard. For this exact reason. Especially not if you are geriatric! Can someone grab her a walker, please?

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ broopimus

This injury is sure to leave a few bones feeling brittle in the morning. The worst part is, if you get hurt or wet on a walk, you still need to make your way back to the car, injured and embarrassed! So, keep your dignity intact and stay out of the water.

Scone in 60 seconds

Teatime isn’t exactly one of the easiest meals to eat. All those small plates and forks, balancing it all while having a cup of tea in your hand, it’s just not practical. Grandma over here was also facing these problems when disaster struck.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ rhi_draw

Now that is a waste of a good scone! All that delicious cream and jam is going to leave a nice mark on her trousers. Her facial expression is one of pure distress but just remember the 5-second rule.

Swing Low

Before VSCO girls were a thing, girls would go to the park in their cutest tank tops and flip-flops and take a few snaps that would later get printed at Walgreens. If you were really fancy, you would even load it up to your Myspace account.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ No1s_Perfect

We are guessing this photo didn’t make the cut, though. We would have never gotten on that swing set to begin with. Those wooden beams look less than kosher and certainly not sturdy enough to hold a couple of teenagers!

Book Smart

Now, this is a tactic we never tried. So, let’s get this straight, if you throw a book hard enough at someone’s head, the information will just spontaneously enter your brain? Where was this info when we were in college!

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ ShirleySexton

But seriously, a book can be a mighty weapon, literally. If it weren’t for her sturdy glasses, she might have lost an eye! We can’t help but wonder, what kind of WWE toddler threw this book with such remarkable accuracy and force?

Football Fail

This is not what is meant by “bend it like Beckham.” This looks more like “kick it like Kermit.” Arms flailing, feet in the air, total clueless look in the eyes. All that’s missing is an iconic green frog collar.

Image Courtesy of Imgur/ zJFub

The look on this poor guy’s face is one of instant regret. We can already hear him thinking, “I should have stayed inside.” Well, that’s what you get for not wearing a proper football kit. Respect the sport, young man!

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Tomatoes

Good on this person for using a reusable shopping bag. The downside is they can still give in on you at any second. Good luck catching all those veggies before they roll down the stairs! Hopefully, they weren’t more than one flight up.

Photo Courtesy of Reddit/ Afzelia

It is just a bit strange that someone was taking a photo of this person as they were carrying the groceries up the stairs. This is not typically the most Instagrammable moment of your day. Maybe it was a slow week on the social front.

Jaws 2: Fowl Play

Who says you can’t hear a picture? duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun … It is pretty remarkable how such a fierce killing machine can move so delicately that the soon-to-be-expired bird does not even notice its menacing presence. Dinner is served.

Image Courtesy of underwatercompetition.com

Big ups to the photographer who had the nerves of steel to get up close and personal with this man-eater. Or, in this case, bird-eater. We would no doubt have had to rinse out our wetsuits after this encounter.

Sweet-ish 16

Every little girl dreams about her Sweet-16 birthday. They might not all be filled with Range Rovers, and celebrity appearances as MTV might have to lead us to believe. Some of us have to be happy with a decent cake and some friends at our house.

Image Courtesy of Imgur/themidgetking

Unfortunately, this cake won’t be covered by the 5-second rule. According to our calculations, that cake is heading straight to the floor, face-down. Hopefully, she will be able to laugh at this some years down the line. Better luck with your 21st!

I hope you weren’t hungry

All we see with this picture is poor Kevin from the office scrambling to pick up his famous chili from the floor. It is heartbreaking to see how chuffed this guy is with his dish, only for it all to end up on the floor.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/keahlian8d

We guess they are having take-out for dinner! Preferably something in a sealed container. It also seems like this lovely dish will leave some equally lovely stains on that nice cream-colored carpet. Good luck to whoever has to tell mom about this nasty spill.

Soldier Down!

Being part of the Queen’s guard is an honorable position, and these soldiers are expected to deliver perfect drills every time. But sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Those bearskin hats and red tunics are far from forgiving against the elements.

Image courtesy of Reddit/keahlian8d

Some say soldiers shouldn’t lock their knees during these extended formations as it can cut off some blood flow. That, combined with his hot (literally and figuratively!) uniform, was the perfect combination for a fainting spell. Hydrate next time, soldier!

Mattress King

This is just one more reason why women live longer than men. That list of reasons is actually getting ridiculously long. Let’s look at Exhibit X: 1 College man, 1 Staircase, and 5 blow-up mattresses—a perfect recipe for disaster.

Image Courtesy of Imgur/themidgetking

There are 3 possible outcomes. Number 1: He will bounce back into the railings. Number 2: The mattresses will pop on impact. Number 3: The mattresses will fly out from under him, and he will hit the floor, losing his last remaining brain cell.

Making a Spectacle of Yourself

As Confucius so eloquently put it: “He who climb rocks, must wear contacts”. We are taking a few literary liberties here, but you get the point. It is pretty important to see where you are going when scaling a sheer rock face.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ YourMomsNext

So, make sure to strap that bad boy to your head or risk an embarrassing call to the emergency services to get you down. It does make for a pretty cool photo, though. It looks like the invisible man is coming to his rescue!

Cake Smash

Just imagine this: you put in all the effort to rent and decorate a venue, everybody is having a grand old time, and out comes cousin Mario with the beautiful 3-tier cake. The pink and white cake of your birthday dreams!

Image Courtesy of Reddit/ hosko787

But cousin Mario seemed to have polished the underside of his shoes. That, combined with the newly waxed floors, created a spectacle like no other. There is no saving this cake, and your guests will have to settle for some 7-11 ice cream instead.

Hard Comedown

We have all had those super vivid dreams where we can fly. You just push off hard enough from the ground and soar into the air. It is pure magic. This could get a little dangerous if you are sleepwalking, though!

Image Courtesy of Imgur/ thetacomaster

This poor fella has either caught himself in the middle of such a sleepwalking bout, or he sorely misjudges his ability to jump superhuman distances! It looks like there won’t be much use for the life-saving device in the back. They will rather need to bring in a stretcher!

Baseball Blunder

It happens to the best of us. Literally. This guy is a pro baseball player and still got a ball to the face like a 5-year old. To add insult to injury there are hundreds of high-speed cameras at these games to catch a moment like this.

Image Courtesy of Pinterest/Drew Peacock

This photo is probably not making it up into the Philadelphia Phillies’ locker room or Hall of Fame any time soon. Maybe a place in the Hall of Failures is better suited. Hopefully, he at least got to walk with this crazy pitch.

Lean Back

While this mucho man is striking a pose in the front, there is something much more fantastical happening in the back. The woman who is about to take a plunge seems to be breaking all the laws of physics in this split second.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/RedditorJoker

She is simultaneously standing on water and defying gravity, all while looking cool as a cucumber. Shame on her friends, though. No one seems to be warning her or even offering a hand to stop her from plummeting to the depths.

Too Slow, Dad

The internet is filled with dads pulling superhero moves to catch falling children as they tumble off the couch or a bike. Well, not in this case. This dad thinks his foot will do the trick, but he will soon learn that is not the case.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/smashley1128

We hope this didn’t put little Timmy off from climbing back on his bike and trying again. And dad, when those training wheels come off, you’d better be a bit more prepared to catch your boy when he falls! That fall will hurt way more.

Slide Away

Taking the kids to the park is a delight for both parent and child. Kids get to play to their heart’s content, and adults get to sit on a bench watching the world go by. But things don’t always go as smoothly as planned.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/BigBoyo25

There are actually a million and one things that can go wrong at the playground, so parents better be ready to wipe away some tears. This poor kid is about to have a hard fall, and her face says she knows what’s up.

Superbad Day

Even celebrities aren’t immune to split-second micro-disasters. Here we have Jonah Hill, legendary actor and director, just casually walking after grabbing his morning coffee. But then, lady luck turns her back on him and decides to pull a fast one.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/gknick

The lid of his coffee cup slips off and sends his brew tumbling to the ground. But if you carry your drink like that, you are probably just asking for it. Luckily money is no issue, and he can just grab a new one.

Get A Grip Bro

Aaaaa watersports. The preferred summer activity for any upper-middle-class bro. A chance to flex some muscles and show off your dad’s boat in the hopes of grabbing the attention of some bronzing babes on the shore. Until this happens.

Image Courtesy of Pinterest/fatosdesconhecidos.com.br

This epic fail has been gloriously captured by someone on the boat, no doubt while the wakeboarder in question was trying to look ultra-cool for the camera. This will teach you a lesson. Focus on the grip, not the ‘gram!

Get em’ grandma!

Kids these days… Gone are the times when kids were totally happy playing with a stick in the dirt. No, these days they need all the biggest and shiniest toys to keep them entertained. We can only imagine how much nagging went on before this photo.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/marcolucera

Listen up, kids, ATVs are not toys! Poor grandma over there is trying her best to catch the one goof, but she will probably break an arm if she catches him. Hopefully, this incident scared them enough to want to pick up a stick and play again. Leave the big wheels to the grown-ups.

Faceplant

We didn’t know the inside of a wheel was also made of rubber? That, or, we smell sabotage in the air! Those are the only two explanations for a wheel totally morphing like this. Luckily this guy was all kitted up and safe.

Image Courtesy of imgur.com/t/ouch

But that doesn’t make this tumble any less sore. He probably walked away with a bruised ego too. By the looks of that ramp, he also still had a long way to tumble before he would come to a stop.

Not the beer!

A day on the slopes can be pretty tiring, and nothing will hit quite like a nice cold brewSKI. (See what we did there!) But it is preferred that the beer stays in the glass until it touches your lips. At no point should it be covering your shirt.

Photo Courtesy of Twitter/ @Myngaa88

This guy is going to be extra frosty in a second or two as there is no coming back from this. But it serves them right for sending the old man to get the drinks. So rude! Sit down, sir, let the kids do the cleaning up.

Vom dot com

Picture day is always something to look forward to. You get to look your best while skipping a few classes while waiting to have your picture taken. These kids all look pretty chuffed with their new clean, bright blue uniforms.

Image Courtesy of Imgur/ IStealPrettyMuchAllMyContent

But Johnny in the back is a bit lactose intolerant. And with all that “cheese” going around on picture day, he just couldn’t keep it in any longer! Cleanup on aisle 2, please. Don’t worry, Johnny, this photo is only going to haunt you for the rest of your life, no big deal!

Up in Flames

Is this what Alicia Keys meant when she sang “this girl is on fire”? Probably not, but it fits pretty damn well! The woman on the left has obviously not realized what is happening yet as she is still dead focused on the cake.

Image Courtesy of Reddit/MURPHtheSURF

But Barbara from accounting is about to get way more than she bargained for when she got out of bed that day. Well, Barbara, the only difference between a good and a bad haircut is 6 weeks. Just give it time…

Ah, nuts!

Baseball is significantly more dangerous than, let’s say, badminton or chess. And Tommy just learned that the hard way. That is why you protect more than just your head when approaching the plate, young one. But he will learn, all in good time.

Image Courtesy of Twitter/ @EltioMichael1

Luckily, he got this lesson out of the way young. Any later and the pain and humiliation factor would grow tenfold.  One day when Tommy has to explain his stunted growth to his wife, he can just whip out this picture.

Tumbling Tyrant

We agree, it is never funny when an old person falls. But when said old person is a ruthless dictator that ran his country to the ground; it is ok to let out a little chuckle. This perfectly timed photo of Robert Mugabe, the former Zimbabwean president, blew up the internet.

Image Courtesy of AP Photo

Thanks to a quick-on-the-trigger photographer we have now been blessed with this meme-worthy image and the trolls of the web could unite to create perfectly photoshopped versions of ol’ Bob breakdancing. Thank you internet, we are forever in your debt.