Normally, chaos is reserved for the big screen (or little screen, in the age of short form videos) but every now and then real life has its moments. So someone asked “What’s the most chaotic thing you’ve witnessed in public?” and people shared their most unhinged examples.
From very public crash-outs to just a Rube Goldberg machine of things going wrong, get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote the best posts and be sure to detail your own wild encounters in the comments down below. While most are quite amusing, there are a handful that are a bit dark, so be warned.
#21
I've been inside a 30-40 person riot as a Paramedic.
This was in a small rural town in Australia, perhaps 4 cops available. So there was no control.
My understanding is that a fight broke out, someone was knocked out, and we didn't know it was a riot when called. Our notes were sparse, saying it was at one of the local pubs (2 in town), and when we pulled into the centre of town saw the chaos spread out over 2ish blocks, and Police overwhelmed.
A cop told us a block down there was someone unconscious, and my partner and I decided bravado and drove through (weaved) the crowd, pulled up, did a 'rapid trauma assessment', and then a 'rapid extrication' (throw on stretcher, bail). Around the patient was their, very drunk, very hostile, family members.
Loaded into the back, my partner in the back and I jumping in the drivers seat, when the back doors opened and the patients HUGE father (45ish, 6'5", built like a truck) climbs in aggravated. My partner talked him down, got him out of the back, I locked up to whole vehicle and bailed around the corner and a couple of blocks up.
I climbed over the front seats into the back, and started helping the assessment/treatment. Then, the whole ambulance started to shake, and it turns out the family followed in cars, got out, and were all around the vehicle (doors locked).
As a rural ambulance, we have super-geared out high beams, and I turned them on, the people in front scattered like a monster film, and escaped for the small rural hospital.
Pulled up, followed by the family. There is no security here.
We get the patient out the back, push through to the ED, and kicked the whole family out due to drunkenness/behaviour. The ED door was a metal/glass, hinged, door that opens outwards. The huge father started barging the door, shoving it *inwards* on its hinges. We called a 'Code 1' (Paramedics in immediate danger, urgent police needed) and barricaded the door with the stretcher.
Control was confused, as they commented "Aren't you with police? They were at scene?". Explained we were followed, far away from the riot, and the Hospital is being battered in.
Control got in contact with police, a minute or so later 2 cops pulled into the Ambulance bay with guns drawn (a big deal in Australia). One officer held the family at gun point, and the other ran straight for the ED door to secure the hospital, us, and the nursing staff.
Heightened emotions were quelled, the family told to move on, nursing staff were not in a good mental state but persevered. Officers were brought in from closer towns (1-1.5 hours away) to assist in moving on the riot, and the next day was paper work and conversations with Management.
This was in a small rural town in Australia, perhaps 4 cops available. So there was no control.
My understanding is that a fight broke out, someone was knocked out, and we didn't know it was a riot when called. Our notes were sparse, saying it was at one of the local pubs (2 in town), and when we pulled into the centre of town saw the chaos spread out over 2ish blocks, and Police overwhelmed.
A cop told us a block down there was someone unconscious, and my partner and I decided bravado and drove through (weaved) the crowd, pulled up, did a 'rapid trauma assessment', and then a 'rapid extrication' (throw on stretcher, bail). Around the patient was their, very drunk, very hostile, family members.
Loaded into the back, my partner in the back and I jumping in the drivers seat, when the back doors opened and the patients HUGE father (45ish, 6'5", built like a truck) climbs in aggravated. My partner talked him down, got him out of the back, I locked up to whole vehicle and bailed around the corner and a couple of blocks up.
I climbed over the front seats into the back, and started helping the assessment/treatment. Then, the whole ambulance started to shake, and it turns out the family followed in cars, got out, and were all around the vehicle (doors locked).
As a rural ambulance, we have super-geared out high beams, and I turned them on, the people in front scattered like a monster film, and escaped for the small rural hospital.
Pulled up, followed by the family. There is no security here.
We get the patient out the back, push through to the ED, and kicked the whole family out due to drunkenness/behaviour. The ED door was a metal/glass, hinged, door that opens outwards. The huge father started barging the door, shoving it *inwards* on its hinges. We called a 'Code 1' (Paramedics in immediate danger, urgent police needed) and barricaded the door with the stretcher.
Control was confused, as they commented "Aren't you with police? They were at scene?". Explained we were followed, far away from the riot, and the Hospital is being battered in.
Control got in contact with police, a minute or so later 2 cops pulled into the Ambulance bay with guns drawn (a big deal in Australia). One officer held the family at gun point, and the other ran straight for the ED door to secure the hospital, us, and the nursing staff.
Heightened emotions were quelled, the family told to move on, nursing staff were not in a good mental state but persevered. Officers were brought in from closer towns (1-1.5 hours away) to assist in moving on the riot, and the next day was paper work and conversations with Management.
44points
#22
Once in DC, I was walking to a pharmacy and outside it a homeless man and a homeless woman crossed paths. They seemed to be coming from different directions. One of them was carrying a large comforter. Without hesitation, the other grabbed it and a tug of war ensued. There was a lot of screaming. I just sidestepped the whole thing and went to the pharmacy. After I paid and left, I saw them both sitting on the side of the building calmly, peacefully sharing the comforter. It was July.
43points
#23
My young dog was always chasing squirrels. Finally one day he caught one and bit down on it. The squirrel bit my dog’s lip. Both were crying and screaming . Finally my dog shook his head and the squirrel was let go. My dog never chased anyone squirrel after that.
39points
#24
I used to work in a public library. We had a decent number of computers but sometimes, rarely, they would fill up and we couldn't give current users time extensions. Usually this wasn't an issue but one day a young guy somewhere in his mid to late 20s came in wanting to game or whatever. Some librarians get weird about it but I’m not the Computer Police.
Unfortunately, he'd already had a time extension and the computers filled up. So when he asked for more time, we had to tell him no because we had people waiting. He couldn't cope. I can’t even give you a clear play by play because what happened next was straight-up Looney Tunes.
We look up and see him on someone else’s computer. The person had just stepped away to use the bathroom. They'd even left their stuff behind. Even if it hadn't been obvious that they weren't finished, you don't just get on a computer. They have to be logged out so personal files and browsing details can be cleared. Knowing this, he'd still sprinted over and claimed her terminal like he discovered new land. Her personal stuff, documents, emails, and social media were all still open. We told him nope, absolutely not, so he slunk off toward nonfiction like a raccoon caught in the trash.
A few minutes later we spot him again, diving onto another computer before the rightful user could sit down. This happened I don't know how many times. He caught on to us watching him so he began to run away the second one of us would stand up. He'd dash off through the stacks thinking, I don't know, maybe that we'd eventually give up? Probably not thinking at all, honestly.
We finally decided to kick him out of the library. He'd become a full-blown disruption, he was a grown adult who'd had enough chances, and we didn't need him running into other patrons. The problem was, he'd gotten squirrely. If he saw a staff person he recognized, he ran, and we weren't about to literally chase him through the library. That's not even appropriate.
I finally had enough and told the Assistant Director, an older beast of a woman who started her career as AD by getting into such a fantastic row with an unruly patron that she told them, "Let's take this outside". He didn't know who she was, she didn't have her name tag on, so she walked right up to him and calmly said, "Let's have a talk" while gesturing him off to the side.
I don't know what she said to him but he didn't come back.
Unfortunately, he'd already had a time extension and the computers filled up. So when he asked for more time, we had to tell him no because we had people waiting. He couldn't cope. I can’t even give you a clear play by play because what happened next was straight-up Looney Tunes.
We look up and see him on someone else’s computer. The person had just stepped away to use the bathroom. They'd even left their stuff behind. Even if it hadn't been obvious that they weren't finished, you don't just get on a computer. They have to be logged out so personal files and browsing details can be cleared. Knowing this, he'd still sprinted over and claimed her terminal like he discovered new land. Her personal stuff, documents, emails, and social media were all still open. We told him nope, absolutely not, so he slunk off toward nonfiction like a raccoon caught in the trash.
A few minutes later we spot him again, diving onto another computer before the rightful user could sit down. This happened I don't know how many times. He caught on to us watching him so he began to run away the second one of us would stand up. He'd dash off through the stacks thinking, I don't know, maybe that we'd eventually give up? Probably not thinking at all, honestly.
We finally decided to kick him out of the library. He'd become a full-blown disruption, he was a grown adult who'd had enough chances, and we didn't need him running into other patrons. The problem was, he'd gotten squirrely. If he saw a staff person he recognized, he ran, and we weren't about to literally chase him through the library. That's not even appropriate.
I finally had enough and told the Assistant Director, an older beast of a woman who started her career as AD by getting into such a fantastic row with an unruly patron that she told them, "Let's take this outside". He didn't know who she was, she didn't have her name tag on, so she walked right up to him and calmly said, "Let's have a talk" while gesturing him off to the side.
I don't know what she said to him but he didn't come back.
37points
#25
Back in the late 90's, I was friends with a house DJ and we went to an after hours club in Vegas. I saw a bald fat man with a white goat on a leash wearing a muumuu and similar hat like Homer in that one Simpon's episode where Homer gained a bunch of weight. This was waaaaaaaaay before that episode ever came out.
35points
#26
I rounded a corner on a country road and a head to head collision just occurred. The front of one car was on fire, and the other car was off the road in a ditch and completely flattened in the front. The driver of the car on fire was physically okay and walking around with an adrenaline dump, his passenger was on his knees in passenger's seat flooring compartment, squished between the seat and the dash with the car smoldering beneath him.
It was not so much fun dragging him out of there because he had some back and hip injuries, but it happened anyway. The look of panic on his face when he realized he was pinned in there, then the pain of being ripped out of a smoldering car was something I'll probably not forget.
The person in the second car was alive but trapped inside of it and had to be extracted with the jaws of life. It was unexpected and wild to stumble upon. A lot of people stopped, just to sit around and watch.
Keep your eyes on the road out there..not your phones.
It was not so much fun dragging him out of there because he had some back and hip injuries, but it happened anyway. The look of panic on his face when he realized he was pinned in there, then the pain of being ripped out of a smoldering car was something I'll probably not forget.
The person in the second car was alive but trapped inside of it and had to be extracted with the jaws of life. It was unexpected and wild to stumble upon. A lot of people stopped, just to sit around and watch.
Keep your eyes on the road out there..not your phones.
33points
#27
A guy on a segway crashing into a hotdog stand.
33points
#28
Not me, but my uncle had gotten fired and decided to go on a trip. So he went and spent a few days in NYC. On the last day he decided to grab breakfast at a small dinner. While eating his food, he witnessed an airplane crash into a building less than a mile away.
This was September 11, 2001.
This was September 11, 2001.
32points
#29
I saw a guy on the subway eating a rotisserie chicken like an apple. No bag, no napkins, just vibes.
30points
#30
Saw a plane crash happen less than a mile away from where I was sitting and eating pizza at the time. That was something.
25points
#31
A sword vs knife fight. I was parked, eating a sub sandwich at a city park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I watched two individuals get into an argument, one guy pulled out a sword and the other a knife.
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24points
#32
Late 90's, Long Beach California. At the local dive bar outside smoking a cig, it was about 1am and getting busy. About 15 people outside and a guy starts pointing at people a yelling "you're the one!" He the starts swinging at people, then he pulls nail clippers out and starts thrusting the file at people screaming "you're the one!" A couple guys clock him and it doesn't phase him. 10 cops show up, it takes 5 to take him down, the hog tied him and put the bite/spit mask on him.
24points
#33
Two septuagenarian men in safari gear getting into a physical fight with a pair of twenty-something women in the parking lot of a Midwestern renaissance fair.
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24points
#34
Two people getting into a fist fight in the parking lot outside my university. A fist fight in-and-of itself isn't too chaotic. The car crash that ensued on the street because the driver slowed down to watch the fight? That was wild.
23points
#35
Saw a guy chase a runaway flamingo through a crowded park, total chaos, everyone screaming and cameras out.
23points
#36
The 1999 "Battle in Seattle", a huge protest downtown against the WTO meeting. Anti World Trade Organization.
Complete pandemonium that lasted for days. I worked in a highrise and had to walk from my place to downtown since the area was cordoned off by police on horseback.
No public transportation, so I wore hiking boots and jeans to walk a mile to the highrise where my law firm was located.
Complete pandemonium that lasted for days. I worked in a highrise and had to walk from my place to downtown since the area was cordoned off by police on horseback.
No public transportation, so I wore hiking boots and jeans to walk a mile to the highrise where my law firm was located.
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22points
#37
This isn't too bad, but it sort of changed my life path. I was in a British Literature class in college and these two guys are arguing about Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales". They stand up and start squaring up, getting ready for a fist fight. The professor calmed them down.
I decided that I couldn't be an English major any more. I just wasn't that passionate about it!
I ended up dropping out of school and working in a lab for years and years.
I decided that I couldn't be an English major any more. I just wasn't that passionate about it!
I ended up dropping out of school and working in a lab for years and years.
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21points
#38
Watching a guy have a heart attack/stroke at all- you-can-eat buffet. In front of his wife. Paramedics trying to bring him back to life. Awful stuff.
21points
#39
I was coming out of a movie theater as a kid and saw a vehicle run a red light in front of me, hit a Jeep (if I remember correctly) and then speed through the movie theater parking lot after the hit and run while other movie goers tried to stop them.
The Jeep caught fire and some other bystander rushed to get the driver out of the vehicle as it very quickly was engulfed in flames. The whole time I stood there slack-jawed. Completely unreal experience to witness after just coming out of the theater.
The Jeep caught fire and some other bystander rushed to get the driver out of the vehicle as it very quickly was engulfed in flames. The whole time I stood there slack-jawed. Completely unreal experience to witness after just coming out of the theater.
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20points
#40
I was apart of an “Exercise” (Exercise- simulated what if scenarios for response) of an unauthorized entry to a flight line ……. 🤦♂️(sigh) …….Dude was called to a response for this and he drove on the flightline where the individual was last spotted. Near that individual was a stationed F-16, upon arrival he put the truck he was driving in neutral and what was meant to be on park, at this time he was on foot chasing the individual all while the truck was still moving and which then crashes into the pointy tip of the F-16 causing millions of dollars worth of damage 💀…..that’s not even the worst part lol. He had a partner with him as well sitting in the passenger seat and she couldn’t get out in time and the tippy part almost punctured her. Let’s just say that was a educational night for everyone 😂.
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20points