How Did David Carradine Die?
Could it Have Been Something Known as Auto-Erotic Asphyxiation?
The original reports from Thai police were that David Carradine hanged himself in his hotel room in Bangkok. Carradine was in Thailand working on a film called "Stretch." However, Carradine's manager swears 100% that his client was not depressed and would never have committed suicide. Many family members and close friends of David Carradine also do not believe the suicide theory.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Thai police say that David Carradine was found nude hanging in a closet in his hotel room with rope cords allegedly wrapped around his neck and his genitals. This suggests that the Kung Fu actor may have accidentally died after something called auto-erotic asphyxiation. An autopsy is being performed and the results will not be known for several weeks.
Auto-erotic asphyxiation: What is it?
An article on Medicinenet.com defines auto-erotic asphyxiation as an unusual sex act where a person tries to suffocate himself for pleasure. The pleasure derived from auto-erotic asphyxiation comes from depriving the brain of oxygen. That leads to a feeling of euphoria and the loosening of inhibitions. Because of the highly dangerous nature of this act, those who practice auto-erotic asphyxiation attempt to make sure there is some kind of 'safety device' to prevent accident injury and/or death. Despite the nature of this practice, the American Psychiatric Association does not list it as a separate mental disorder in it's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Auto-erotic asphyxiation: Who practices it?
Auto-erotic asphyxiation is most commonly practiced by teenage boys (which would make David Carradine's case highly unusual since he was 72.) Not surprisingly, the vast majority of deaths resulting from auto-erotic asphyxiation are among teenage boys. The FBI estimates up to 1000 deaths a year can be attributed to auto-erotic asphyxiation.
Auto-erotic asphyxiation: How can you tell if someone participates in this activity?
Because of the controversial nature of this practice, not many people will openly confess to doing it. So it helps to recognize some warning signs of auto-erotic asphyxiation. (These warning signs have been defined by Andrew P. Jenkins, PhD., EMT, CHES at Central Washington University as part of his article on auto-erotic asphyxiation reprinted on oxbowacademy.net)
Unexplained marks around the neck
Complaints of headaches
Bloodshot eyes
The presence of pornography in the closet and/or under the bed (often, but not always)
Ropes and cords tied in knots in the bedroom
Parents and teachers should be aware of these warning signs and move quickly to speak to their child if they notice these signs with their child. Some professionals recommend educating teens about auto-erotic asphyxiation along with suicide prevention due to the nature of this sex act.
Sources:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/news/bal-carradine-0605,0,3174687.story
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51776
Published by J Budd, RN - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
I am a registered nurse and former radio broadcast journalist in the NYC/NJ area for over a decade. Some of the stations I have worked with include Bloomberg News Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Fox News Rad... View profile
- David Carradine's Death and the Thai Death PhotoThe untimely death of actor David Carradine.
- Auto Erotic Asphyxiation TodayA brief discussion of auto erotic asphyxiation and its appearance in modern media.
- Hotel Evacuation - What You Should Keep by Your Hotel Room Door in Case of EmergencyWe were awoken by alarms and needed to immediately evacuate our hotel room. We didn't have time to think about what we might need to take with us. Now I have a list of what should be kept by the hotel room door, jus...
- Check to Ensure Your Hotel Room is Clean: The Top 10 PlacesWhile a hotel room might look clean, appearances can be deceiving. Here are ten places to check to ensure your room has been properly cleaned.
Actor David Carradine Dies at 72David Carradine has died at the age of 72. The report coming out of Bangkok, Thailand was originally from his personal manager, who stated that David Carradine was found dead i...
- David Carradine Death Photo, Thai Rath Continue to Spark Heated Debate
- David Carradine's Death Possible Sex Act Gone Wrong, Thai Officials Say
- David Carradine Death Photo Causing Scandal
- David Carradine Death Photo Published
- David Carradine May Have Been Murdered by Lady Boys
- David Carradine Thai Death Photo Spreads to Internet
- Thai Rath Publishes Carradine Hanging Photo; Carradine Family Outraged
5 Comments
Post a CommentThis is a difficult topic, but it is great to see someone approach it respectfully rather than with sensationalism.
Good article Jennifer!
Why would he do this?
More things point to murder than to suicide or a sexual accident.
1. He was 72
2. He was rich
3. He had women
4. He was not mentally unstable
5. He was involved with martial arts
6. Bruce Lee also died under strange circumstances
7. David Carradine was too intelligent to practice sexual strangulation
8. He died only two days after getting there hardly enough time for a 72 year old man to rest from the long flight much less be concerned about sexual strangulation.
More clues point to murder than to he did himself.
We live in days when many people get away with murder.
David Carradine died in Thailand which also tells much.
Why there????
I have thought it was murder or accident from the get go. Never thought of the sexual side but now that the news is out in full it seems perhaps there may have been someone in his room with him and this could be the ticket of what happen.
I'm leaning more toward an accident since I don't think most people want to be found nude. I mean, if you were going to kill yourself, I'd imagine you wouldn't want to be found naked. Considering there was a rope tied somewhere else fairly private, I'd go with an unfortunate autoerotica event here.