Chef boiled to death in horrifying two hour execution so brutal it was outlawed
A sumptuous dinner party in Lambeth, south London, in 1531 ended in horror as guests became violently ill, leading to one of history's most harrowing executions – being boiled alive.
The cook, Richard Roose, fell under suspicion for the illness after allegedly lacing the food with a mysterious powder. He was condemned by King Henry VIII for the act of poisoning and sentenced to an unprecedented and gruesome death.
Roose's final moments were marked by a chilling first in British penal history as he became the inaugural victim to be publicly boiled alive.
Contemporary records indicate that Roose was fastened to a gibbet, akin to a gallows, before being plunged repeatedly into a scalding cauldron. Witnesses reported that he "roared mighty loud" and endured two hours of torment before succumbing.
The method of execution by boiling was intentionally designed to inflict a prolonged and excruciating demise through severe burns, reports the Daily Star.
Although heat burns destroy skin cells, it is often the subsequent shock from extensive injuries that proves fatal. This state of shock, characterised by inadequate oxygen supply to the body, can be lethal.
According to the NHS, signs of shock include a pallid complexion, clammy skin, an accelerated heartbeat, rapid and shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness. Severe burns can lead to soft tissue shrinkage causing skin tears and reduced fat and muscle volume.
Additionally, the intense heat from burns may cause muscles to contract involuntarily, which can result in flexed joints. Recent research has shown that extreme heat damage can precipitate respiratory failure through direct injury to the airways, which can be fatal.
Indeed, respiratory failure is one of the leading causes of death among burn victims, especially those with inhalation injuries.
History recounts how Richard Roose suffered severe blistering due to burns, but it's not documented whether his cauldron contained water, oil, or wax.
Other historical accounts describe a gruesome practice where victims were placed into cool liquids, which were then heated to boiling point as a form of execution. This prolonged and brutal method was intended to delay the body entering into shock, thus maximising the pain experienced.
In a YouTube video detailing this story, viewers shared their dismay at the barbaric punishment, with one commenting on the "worst execution."
Another viewer said: "It's hard to fathom the brutality these people inflicted on one another. We are the cruellest of all living species."
Yet another added: "Even if guilty this punishment is beyond evil."
This method of execution was so brutal that it was later outlawed by Edward VI in 1547. However, accidental deaths by boiling can still occur today.
For instance, in 2016, a 23 year old tragically died and was dissolved after falling into a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park in the US. When his body was found, the water was reportedly at a boiling point of 100°C (212°F).
The World Health Organisation reports that an estimated 180,000 deaths annually are due to burn injuries. In 2019, two Russians were boiled alive in a sink hole when they failed to swerve their vehicle last minute - plunging into scalding water.
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