# On a human, does neck snap = instant death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703 "2009-12-10T05:56:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/21 "2009-12-10T20:55:46Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > I hear the thing to do is to cover their mouth and stab into the side of the neck and tear out through the trachea and major arteries. Instant unconsciousness results followed by quick death. Never tried it myself. > > I can say that after butchering a few animals, it is amazing how tough some of that connective tissue is. This would be an incredibly messy way of killing someone (and yes, the neck is full of muscles and connective tissues which are hard to cut through; hence why the executioner of old used a heavy, wide-bladed axe or scimitar). The best way to kill someone from behind would be a knife into the back of the head, blade horizontal to slide between cervical vertebrae. A shot to the side of the neck or temple is not reliable, and cutting the trachea is (reportedly) very noisy. Intrusion into the kidney is supposed to be paralyzingly painful, and will result in rapid death if the renal artery is severed. The heart is an unreliable target from the rear. The whole neck snap thing is pure Hollywoodism; the neck is one of the most flexible joints in the body (only the shoulder has more pure rotation) and unless you were very fast, or could hold the body rigid while twisting the head, there is isn’t any way you could sever the spinal cord reliably. Basically, the victim would have to be sitting strapped into a chair and you’d have to be Lou Ferrigno to pull this off. As **Blake** says, if you have this kind of strength, a blow to the rear of the head or neck is likely to be more effective. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![dragoncat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@dragoncat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragoncat)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/22 "2009-12-10T21:04:20Z")
Well, I know this isn’t exactly the question, but there are different kinds of “broken necks.” A friend of mine had a surfing accident and “broke her neck.” She did hear a snap, but she walked away (not knowing how serious it was) and went to the doctor the next day. Needless to say, her spinal cord was not severed as the movies or the media will suggest always happens with a broken neck. I would think the easiest and best way to render someone dead (ie. unconscious) from behind is to put pressure on the vagus nerve. Of course, getting into a position in which you can perform this feat against an enemy is another question. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/23 "2009-12-10T21:07:01Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Anyone else hear this in the voice of Dwight Shrute? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/24 "2009-12-10T21:21:03Z")
I went on a date with the Bobble Head Girl! That was her nickname. She and her then-boyfriend were vacationing in Australia and they got in a serious, single-car accident. After waiting and waiting, and waiting, her boyfriend decided to wander off into the wilderness (looking for some help in the form of wallabies or something), whereas she refused to go and get lost, and stayed put by the side of the road. She got picked up by a trucker and was able to get help. She was driven to the nearest town, she talked to the police and did all sorts of police related stuff to help them find the car and her wayward boyfriend, and only sought medical help hours later. Turns out, her neck was broken! :eek: Hence she was nicknamed Bobble Head. So broken neck does not always mean instant death. When you hang someone, that’s actually an [orthopedic decapitation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthopedic_decapitation) (aka “internal decapitation”) and that is almost always fatal. Although I remember there was some little boy in the news last year who survived one. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/25 "2009-12-10T23:54:12Z")
(I basically repeated what the previous poster said, so I deleted it.) I’ve x-rayed several people who have made their own way to the Emergency Room who were then found to have broken vertebrae. Nothing at C-1 or C-2 that I remember, though. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/26 "2009-12-11T00:22:53Z")
My chiropractor does this to me all the time and it just feels good. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/27 "2009-12-11T03:42:07Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Anyone else hear this in the voice of Dwight Shrute? Nah, not from Shodan. We disagree profoundly on pretty much any political topic you care to name, but on martial arts in general and Judo in particular he’s completely solid. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/28 "2009-12-11T04:24:50Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > It would break his neck and render him unconscious and incapacitated. Whether it kills him depends on exactly where the break occurs. > > Theoretically, yes. On a real, struggling human being, you’d have to be very strong and very lucky. And if you’re that strong, punching the person on the back of the head would be more certain. So… still okay for fantasy/sci-fi, then? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/29 "2009-12-11T04:33:41Z")
> [@Umbriel2](#): > > A windpipe-crushing choke hold is probably the real world equivalent for unarmed stealthy lethal attack, though it’s much slower in its effects, and the victim has more opportunity to struggle. My dad once told me that it takes 20 seconds to render someone unconscious that way. (ISTM that 20 seconds is a very long time when you’re in a life-and-death situation.) True, or not? ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/30 "2009-12-11T04:57:20Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > My dad once told me that it takes 20 seconds to render someone unconscious that way. (ISTM that 20 seconds is a very long time when you’re in a life-and-death situation.) True, or not? Not true. If you look around You Tube you can find videos of this. If your opponent isn’t out within 10 seconds you are doing it wrong. If you’re doing it right the eyes start rolling back in under 3 seconds and they’re out cold within 7 or 8 seconds. Of course 7 seconds is still a long time in a life-and-death situation, which is why I would prefer something a little more crude like blow to the the base of the skull. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/31 "2009-12-11T05:08:07Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Another thread on the subject: > [Can a Green Beret type really break an enemies neck just like in the movies? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=238611) Wow, almost the same question. I did do a search beforehand, I promise.🙂 Thanks to everyone for the interesting replies. The motivation for it was kind of weird. I was watching some movie the other day when this maneuver was performed and I thought to myself, for the first time, “Gosh, I hope that bad guy isn’t suffering after that neck snap.” Yes, I get weird thoughts when I watch movies:) ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/32 "2009-12-11T22:21:37Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > This would be an incredibly messy way of killing someone (and yes, the neck is full of muscles and connective tissues which are hard to cut through; hence why the executioner of old used a heavy, wide-bladed axe or scimitar). The best way to kill someone from behind would be a knife into the back of the head, blade horizontal to slide between cervical vertebrae. A shot to the side of the neck or temple is not reliable, and cutting the trachea is (reportedly) very noisy. Intrusion into the kidney is supposed to be paralyzingly painful, and will result in rapid death if the renal artery is severed. The heart is an unreliable target from the rear. Clearly, experimental observation is called for in the interests of science. 🙂 While I will buy that it would be messy (on top of arterial spray, I heard that the victim will often vomit through the slit), I can’t believe that it would be especially difficult to perform with a sufficiently sharp knife, nor that it would be more difficult than inserting between vertebrae. Are there any good ways of killing a man with your bare hands quickly and quietly? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/33 "2009-12-11T22:35:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I would bet this is on border of “possible”. If a person were very, very strong, the other person had a particularly weak or congenitally compromised spine, and the attack was totally unexpected so that the breakee had no chance to tense the muscles of the neck, maybe. But routinely? I don’t think so. > > If you do happen across someone who could bring it off, I would make some effort to remain in his good graces. > > If I wanted to incapacitate someone instantly from behind, I would do the [sleeper hold](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv8Xi0CZflw) found in judo and ju-jitsu, choke the fellow out, and then kill him with a strike to the trachea once he was unconscious. > > Regards, > Shodan Would this hold kill a person if it is maintained after the victim passes out? ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/34 "2009-12-11T23:14:03Z")
You can be internally decapitated and live, so even that isn’t a 100% death sentence! > [@](#): > > internal decapitation. “I read the CT scan, and it was depressing,” Bhatia says. “Ninety-five percent of people with internal decapitation die immediately or within a day or two. Of the other five percent, most are either quadriplegic or on a ventilator the rest of their lives.” [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1160028/1/index.htm](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1160028/1/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/35 "2009-12-11T23:34:42Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Would this hold kill a person if it is maintained after the victim passes out? It works by restricting blood flow from the carotid artery to the brain, so eventually, yup. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/36 "2009-12-11T23:49:33Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > Are there any good ways of killing a man with your bare hands quickly and quietly? The aforementioned rear naked choke will kill someone eventually, but probably not as quickly as you’re hoping. A guillotine choke can kill by crushing the trachea ([news story](http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/23/Pasco/McDonald_s_case_resul.shtml)), and a neck crank can eventually break the neck, but again, probably not quickly and quietly. Lt. Col Dave Grossman says in his book _On Killing_ that the proper method of dispatching someone sliently from behind is with a knife into the kidney - apparently the shock and pain makes it impossible to scream. This is an area in which I admit I have little personal knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/37 "2009-12-11T23:52:24Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > It works by restricting blood flow from the carotid artery to the brain, so eventually, yup. There was a case about 2 years ago where a mixed martial artist killed his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend by putting on a choke hold and holding it until the boyfriend died (people I knew peripherally were required to give testimony at the trial). So to answer your question, yes (although apparently it took a couple of minutes of choking after the guy went unconscious). Also, even though it takes 8 seconds to go unconscious, you start losing strength and focus (i.e., you stop forgetting to fight the choke, and start thinking about bunnies) almost immediately. Very effective hold. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/38 "2009-12-11T23:52:46Z")
[News story on deaths blamed on police use of the vascular neck restraint, aka sleeper hold, aka rear naked choke, aka hadaka jime](http://bulletin.aarp.org/states/nv/2009/48/articles/police_tactics.html). ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/39 "2009-12-11T23:57:41Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > Are there any good ways of killing a man with your bare hands quickly and quietly? If you want quick & quiet & bare hands, the choke (specifically the rear naked choke) is your best bet. Pravnik mentioned the guillotine (as an aside–holds that put pressure on the larynx are called strangles, holds that put pressure on the arteries are called chokes), but the chance of crushing the larynx is pretty small, athough police did manage to do it on a semi-regular basis, which is why choke holds were banned by most police departments. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703/40 "2009-12-13T07:10:36Z")
This would have been in the late 1990’s . . . I read about it in the newspaper and at the time the only access I had to newspapers would have been an Army newspaper. In Korea, a female Korean barber accidentally killed a GI after giving him a haircut by twisting his head. Korean barbers often give shoulder massages and head twists (to get out the kinks) after a haircut. This one ended badly. Sorry, no cite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-human-does-neck-snap-instant-death/520703.md?page=1)