Last year I tripped over something and (it's a long story) faceplanted the ground wearing a helmet which kinda rotated and banged into my larynx. Had a lovely bruise which looked like I had been strangled, and had a croaky voice for a few days. Was fun explaining that at work... For a few minutes after I was really fearing it would swell up and close off my breathing! Thankfully I was in very central London so even if that did happen it wouldn't have meant death.
I've read many stories about people on dirt bikes and ATVs out riding on land with unmarked barbed wire, and being killed by literally losing their heads instantly. This guy was lucky that didn't happen.
Ooh. Man. I know someone who died like that--crushed his windpipe. Fuck me that's terrifying.