Burning

Of all the different ways to go out, burning is the least preferable option for the majority of people. In fact, 9/10 times, they’ll pick freezing to death over burning, because at least that way, you go numb before you die. This explains why burning people alive was a popular method of execution back in the day, not to mention the people that lose their lives to fire by accident. Either way, fire is not a pleasant way to go.

If you’re lucky, the toxic fumes will get you first, and in house fires, up to 75% of people die from carbon monoxide poisoning, rather than burning to death, which is a small mercy, as they’re rendered unresponsive before the fire gets to them.

If this doesn’t happen and it is the fire that does them in, it’s possibly the worst experience of all time. Think of the last time you got a burn, now imagine that process being prolonged, where the flames/heat are stimulating the nerves and cooking flesh, which actually boosts the skin’s pain sensitivity (as the body’s natural defence to get you out of there). After the first layer is burnt away, a deeper, duller pain begins as the muscles start hardening and you smell yourself cooking. Eventually blood and fluid loss will cause your heart to stop.