Autoerotic fatalities are accidental deaths that occur during sexual self-stimulation when an apparatus, device or prop that is being employed to enhance pleasure causes the death.

Autoerotic asphyxia is the leading cause. 70 to 80% of autoerotic deaths are caused by hanging, while 10 to 30% are attributed to plastic bags or chemical use. Both of these lead to autoerotic asphyxia. 5 to 10% are related to electrocution, foreign body insertion, overdressing/body wrapping, or another atypical method.

  • Stephen Milligan, a British politician and Conservative MP for Eastleigh, died from autoerotic asphyxiation combined with self-bondage in 1994.
  • Kevin Gilbert, a musician and songwriter, died of apparent autoerotic asphyxiation in 1996.
  • David Carradine was found dead on 4 June 2009 from accidental asphyxiation, according to the medical examiner who performed a private autopsy on the actor. His body was found near naked and hanging by a rope in a closet in his hotel room in Thailand, and there was evidence of a recent orgasm; two autopsies were conducted and concluded that his death was not suicide, and the Thai forensic pathologist who examined the body stated that his death may have been due to autoerotic asphyxiation. Two of Carradine's ex-wives, Gail Jensen and Marina Anderson, stated publicly that his sexual history included the practice of self-bondage.
  • Kristian Digby was found dead on 1 March 2010 in what police said were "unexplained circumstances". The television presenter's post-mortem examination was held on 2 March 2010 and the results were inconclusive. The police were satisfied that there was no third-party involvement and the press reported his death was caused by auto-erotic asphyxiation. On 9 November 2010, a coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

Although Paula Yates contradicted earlier statements she had made by saying during a 1999 interview that Michael Hutchence's 1997 death might have been caused by autoerotic asphyxiation, the coronial inquest found it to be suicide due to a combination of depression and intoxication with alcohol and other drugs.

Further reading

See also

  • Death during consensual sex

References

  • An Objective Overview of Autoerotic Fatalities

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