Masturbation kills up to 100 Germans a year, according to a study which has also uncovered the bizarre ways people have died pleasuring themselves.
One man – wearing pantyhose, a raincoat and a diving suit as well as a plastic bag over his head – died in Hamburg after sitting next to a heater and trying to melt slices of cheese on his body. Another man in Halle was found dead with Christmas tree lights clamped to his nipples having apparently tried to stimulate himself by electrocution.
This was based on findings that for every one million German citizens there are ‘one or two’ cases of deaths a year in which a prop or device was used to boost stimulation during sexual activity.
Women are also known to die from autoerotic asphyxiation, but it is less likely as it’s claimed that they are “more cautious”.
However, Dr Voss predicts that the official number could be way lower than the actual figure as family members may feel ashamed to report victims that dies of suspected masturbation cases. The researcher also blames the high incident of self-servicing on the exposure to the internet as well as the social media.