Ah, the humble yawn—the universal signal for “I’m bored” or “I need coffee,” but for 36-year-old UK mom Hayley Black, it became a near-death experience worthy of a horror flick. One sleepy morning, while prepping a bottle for her yawning baby, Hayley joined in with a mighty mouth-stretch that snapped her neck bones forward into her spine, sending electric shocks through her body and freezing her arm mid-air. Rushed to the hospital, doctors were baffled until scans revealed the freak fracture at C6 and C7, giving her a 50/50 shot at walking or even surviving. Emergency surgery saved her from paralysis, but left her with nerve damage, a tracheal scar, fibromyalgia, and a lifelong fear of yawning. Now, every unmedicated step zaps her like a taser, turning what should be a relaxing reflex into a panic-inducing peril. Moral of the story: next time you yawn, do it gently—or risk joining the “broke my neck from boredom” club.
Young Woman Yawns So Strongly That She Breaks Her Neck
