While we often see the aftermath of catastrophic events — the rubble covering New York City after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Queen Elizabeth's Funeral, and heck, even the destruction a tsunami leaves in its wake — there's a split second of normalcy before disaster strikes.
Sometimes, it's even captured on film.
From the final moments of John Lennon's life to the build-up to the now-infamous Academy Awards slap, here are 19 photos taken mere seconds before a major catastrophe.
1
“The last photo taken of Queen Elizabeth II, just 2 days before her death.”
2
“A Japanese-American girl pledging allegiance to US flag before she and her family were incarcerated.”
3
“Moments before the Tsunami hit in Thailand, 2004.”
4
“Prince Philip 23 days before his death.”
5
“Final photo of Robert Overacker jet skiing over Niagara falls before he fell to his death.”
6
“Chris Rock’s face seconds before being hit by Will Smith.”
7
“Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner two weeks before her death, 1981.”
8
“Kyle Carpenter before … being wounded while deployed in Afghanistan.”
9
“Last pic of Vladimir Lenin before he die[d].”
10
“Last picture taken of Bruce Lee in July 1973 some days before he passed.”
11
“Photos of inside the WTC on 9/11 before collapse.”
12
“Last photos of John Lennon signing his killers autograph hours before his death (Circa 1980).”
13
“Alexei Navalny watching Rick & Morty shortly before returning to Russia and being arrested.”
14
“Six Flags New Orleans in 2004 before Hurricane Katrina.”
15
“Moments before being evicted.”
16
“Photo taken instants before the car explodes. The man and the boy survived.”
17
“August 24, 1997 a week before her death. Princess Diana.”
18
“Trump minutes before suggesting injecting something like a disinfectant to fight Covid-19”
19
“Bataclan before the shootings.”
![“Last pic of Vladimir Lenin before he die[d].”](https://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/2024/04/23/034049/87536704/Screenshot 2024-04-23 at 3.35.25 PM.png)
