The Most Heartbreaking Photos Taken Before Disasters
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When you think about it, cameras have changed almost every facet of our society. They allow people to instantly preserve happy moments like birthdays and holidays so that we can relive those moments whenever we want. Unfortunately, that goes the other way as well: cameras capture terrible tragedies so that we can still relive the pain even decades later.
Some of these photos seem particularly cursed because they capture the calm before the storm…or at least, before tragedy strikes. Care to relive some of the most awful moments in world history? Just keep reading to discover the most heartbreaking photos taken before disaster struck!
The most infamous school shooting in American history
One of the worst things about American society is that school shootings have become depressingly commonplace. There are some shootings that make national headlines, including Sandy Hook Elementary. Sadly, though, there are many shootings that are quickly forgotten as the public tries to process the tragedies of today rather than those of tomorrow.
However, one shooting that will never be forgotten is Columbine. This was an early, high-profile shooting back when such events were rare, and it instantly transformed the late shooters (Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold) into notorious celebrities. This photo captures the heroic moment when William Sanders led over 100 students to safety. There was no safe place for Sanders, though, who was fatally wounded by the shooters before they committed suicide.
Doomed firefighters
For those who were alive when it happened, the September 11th terrorist attacks remain one of the worst tragedies in American history. Photos from before the attack help memorialize the Twin Towers and everyone who lost their lives that day. In some cases, even photos taken after the attack manage to capture some of the most heartbreaking events of that day.
For example, this photo records the moment when six brave firefighters from Ladder Company 118 were crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, on their way to save as many people as possible after the terrorist attack. Tragically, they were unable to save themselves: they were last seen taking the stairs of a Marriott hotel near the World Trade Center in their frantic quest for survivors.
Less than an hour later, the South Tower fell, claiming the lives of all six heroic firefighters when the Marriott toppled to the ground. To this day, this photo serves as a reminder of the bravery of those willing to sacrifice their lives to save others.
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Tupac’s final photo
Back in 1996, Tupac Shakur was one of the most influential celebrities in the world. The musician had made countless fans, but he also made countless enemies thanks to the ongoing East vs. West Coast rivalry he had with other rappers. Still, nobody imagined how serious that rivalry would get until Tupac went to see Mike Tyson box in Las Vegas.
This photo captures the moment after Tupac and Suge Knight left the MGM Grand following an alleged altercation. Later that night, Tupac would be fatally gunned down by an unknown assailant. That makes this the last photograph of the legendary rap king before his untimely death.
Harambe’s final photo
To this day, “Harambe” is a name that starts arguments. That’s because everyone took different sides about the event that led to the gorilla’s death. If you don’t recall, the incident in question involved a young child falling into the silverback gorilla’s enclosure. The zookeeper couldn’t guarantee that the gorilla wouldn’t kill the boy, so he made the swift decision to kill the animal before it could do any harm.
The internet was instantly divided: some people felt the zookeeper did the right thing because he guaranteed the survival of the boy. Harambe’s defenders, however, pointed out that the 17-year-old silverback did not have a history of violence and did not seem to actively pose a threat to the child. And this photo shows those fateful moments leading to the gorilla getting fatally shot, a moment that continues to live in internet infamy.
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Princess Diana before the crash
Many people have complicated feelings about the Royal Family. This is particularly true of Americans: after all, when you live in a country born from rejecting monarchy, it’s tough to get very excited about kings or queens. One royal, though, got everyone excited: Princess Diana, known as “The People’s Princess” for her charity work and her very public empathy for those who were sick. Diana also felt a bit like the rock star rebel of the royal family after her highly public split from Prince Charles, the future King of England.
Sadly, Princess Diana was taken from us too early when she died in an automobile accident in 1997. She and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed died along with their driver when their vehicle crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel of Paris. This photo captures a moment from that night in which Diana’s bodyguard and driver are with her inside the vehicle, shortly before the fatal crash.