11 Most Dangerous Sports in the World

Broken ribs, concussions, coma, paralysis, even death… all these can happen as a result of practicing some of these 11 most dangerous sports in the world. With increasing consciousness about wide-ranging benefits of physical activities, the number of people who decide to dedicate time to sports is greater than ever. Consequently, the number of those who end up in hospitals because of sport-related injuries is also on the rise. Luckily, majority ends up with minor hurts such as sprains and strains, which can be easily prevented by gentle warm-up. However, for some sport can be fatal.

Just recall images of Michael Schumacher’s accident that filled newspaper pages a couple of years ago. Paradoxically, Formula 1 driver, who won more races than any other driver in the history, didn’t get hurt on a track but while skiing. Although one might think that racing, skiing and boxing are among the most dangerous sports, our ranking shows the opposite. It’s not that previously mentioned sports aren’t dangerous – last year Jules Bianchi, a French motor racing driver, succumbed to injuries from a crash in 2014, but the number of people who die while practicing sports that are usually perceived as “safe” in some cases exceeds the number of fatalities in so-called extreme sports.

Swimming is one of the sports we usually don’t associate with the word “danger”. However, it turns out that drowning ranks as fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States, which is one of the reasons why swimming found its place on the list. So be careful next time you jump into the water especially if you are visiting one of these 11 deadliest lakes in the United States.

In creating the ranking 11 most dangerous sports in the world, we used as a criterion odds of dying while practicing a certain sport. You might be surprised to find out that some of the most adventurous sports carry less risk than everyday activities such as car riding or plane traveling. Moreover, only three sports on the list are more likely to kill you compared to lightning strike for which the odds of dying are one in 83,930.

We based this ranking on statistics for sixteen sports which is compiled by evidence-based healthcare journal Bandolier. In order to find out what are the chances of dying associated with sports that are not included on Bandolier’s list we searched for other sources. For some, such as boxing, formula 1 or mountaineering, i.e. sports that are usually thought of as risky, we only managed to find the number of deaths in the ceratin time period. These sports are not included on the list as there was no statistics about the number of participants and consequently determining the chances of dying wasn’t possible.

11. Horse riding

Odds of dying: 1 in 175,418

We start with horse riding which has gained increasing popularity in the world, especially among young women. Around 7 million people ride a horse in the US annually. At the same time, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) reports that there were 50,688 injuries related to horse riding in 2014, which is almost five times greater compared to boxing related harms. Of course, the difference can be explained by the fact that fewer people opt for box fighting. However, other analysis point that it is 20 times more likely to get injured while riding a horse than while riding a motor. In greatest number of accidents, riders receive head and spinal injuries which are caused either by falls or kicks. These types of injuries can be fatal especially in the case when a horse fall on a rider.

10. Marathon

Odds of dying: 1 in 126,626

The article Competing risks of mortality with marathons: retrospective analysis shows that risk of dying from a heart attack while running a marathon is one in 126 625. The number is based on analysis of 26 deaths among almost 3.3 million participants on 750 separate days. Previous heart conditions that usually went undetected were the main cause of these fatalities. Other studies estimate odds of heart failure during a race at one in 80 000. The majority of these fatalities happen near or shortly after finishing line, and people under 40 are seven times less likely to survive the heart attack. Still, compared to the possibility of dying in a car crash or in an air travel accident, odds that marathon will kill you are low.

9. Tennis

Odds of dying: 1 in 116,945

At first sight, tennis may look like one of the safest sports to practice. What can go wrong in a game where two players don’t have direct contact with each other? It is always possible that a ball hit you, but chances that the hit will be fatal are pretty low. However, according to Bandolier, there were 15 deaths on tennis fields in Germany between 1997 and 2006, which means that chances of dying during a match are one in almost 117.000. As in the case of the marathon, the most common cause of death is a cardiac attack. So if you are considering taking up tennis, first make sure that you heart can take it.

8. Hang gliding

Odds of dying: 1 in 116,000 flights

UK Health and Safety Executive group estimates chances of dying for hang gliding at one in 116.000 flights. It is possible that the odds are much higher, at least in the US, where in the first half of 2015 there were 8 hang gliding fatalities, which is more than double compared to annual fatality rate in last decade. US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) analyzed each of eight deaths and concluded that in most cases failure to comply with basic safety rules was contributing factor. According to the association, problems with conditions, equipment or intentional maneuvers while flying in proximity to the terrain were present in all hang gliding fatalities. The other problem was the loss of control of the wing due to encountering turbulence near the ground. Thus, one of the best ways to stay safe is to keep higher altitude from the ground and avoid flying aggressively.

7. Football

Odds of dying: 1 in 103,187

The sport which is often referred to as “the most important of the unimportant things in life”, football, can be quite a rough game. Compared to other sportsmen, football players suffer more injuries. Luckily, in most cases these harms aren’t serious and they can be easily treated. FIFA survey of injuries during World Cup 2014 showed that there were 104 injuries on pitches, out of which eight were classified as severe – five concussions and three fractures to the head were reported. The most prevalent cause of serious harms is collision with an opponent and awkward fall from a jump. From 1989 to 2015, 122 football players died during the match and in many cases, a heart attack was the direct cause of death.

6. Skydiving

Odds of dying: 1 in 101,083 jumps.

Data from the US shows that odds of dying while skydiving are approximately 1 in 100.000. On the other side, the study Fatalities in Swedish skydiving, estimated chances of dying during a jump at one in 125,189. Additionally, Anton Westman, the study’s author, found that in the greatest number of cases human error, or better say inexperience, was the major contributing factor. Young skydivers often lose control over their body which may result in parachute entanglement or failure to open the parachute. Unintentional water landings also played a role in some of the investigated deaths. On the other side, Discovery, relying on data from US Parachuting Association, calculated that a person is 24 times more likely to die in a car accident than in a skydiving one. If we look at Discovery statistics, it may seem that skydiving isn’t so dangerous. Still, the fact is that when you hit the ground from such a long distance, staying alive equals to a miracle.

5. Running

Odds of dying: 1 in 97,455

Running, which ranks as sixth on the list 11 most dangerous sports in the world, has many benefits. People run to take off extra pounds, stay fit, improve physical health, or simply because they enjoy a surge of endorphin they experience while taking that extra mile. While all these benefits can’t be disputed, running can be fatal for people with heart conditions. One study showed that jogging increases the risk of death by five to seven times with people who have heart disease. The second danger for runners is traffic. Although there are no statistics on how many joggers have died in a collision with vehicles, some estimates showed that between 2004 and 2009, 40 runners were killed in the US.

4. Cycling:

Odds of dying: 1 in 92,325

The increasing popularity of bicycles as a mean of commuting is the main reason why there are so many bicycle-related accidences. In the US, more than half a million people end up in ER because of bicycle-related injuries every year. In 2009, nearly 85,000 people had head injuries while it is estimated that around 600 people died during cycling, majority of them because of traumatic brain injuries. Two main causes of cyclists’ deaths are a lack of proper protection and alcohol impairment. Thus, wearing a helmet and not drinking before you sit on a bike is the best policy for staying safe.

3. Triathlon

Odds of dying: 1 in 68,515

Triathlon, one of the most physically demanding sports, involves competing in three disciplines: swimming, biking, and running, each of which carries its own risks. The death rate estimated at one in 68,515 is based on analysis of 959,214 participants out of which fourteen died, including 13 while swimming and 1 while biking. Although drowning was declared the cause of each swimming death, 7 of 9 autopsies showed that diseased had cardiovascular abnormalities. The analysis concludes that while the cardiovascular disease can be seen as contributing factor, logistical factors ( a great number of participants) and adverse environmental conditions (cold, turbulent water) also played a role in these fatalities.

2. Swimming

Odds of dying: 1 in 56,587

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about ten people die from drowning daily. Moreover, those who suffer nonfatal injuries can experience severe brain damage that may leave them in the permanent vegetative state. Another relatively common and dangerous swimming accident is circulation entrapment. NEISS estimates that there were 159,892 swimming related injuries including accidents involving equipment, pools, water slides in 2014.

1. Base jumping

Odds of dying: 1 in 2,317

Base jumping ranks as first among 11 most dangerous sports in the world. The article How dangerous is BASE jumping? estimates that one fatality happens in every 2,317 jumps, while nonfatal accidences occur in every 254 jumps. Analyzes of fatal jumps show that majority of victims jumped from the cliff, 71.5 percent of them, followed by the antenna, bridge, and building. The danger of base jumping lies in the fact that jumps are performed from lower altitudes which means that the jumper has slower airspeeds and thus less time for establishing full control over his body and parachute openings.