A death grip is an extremely tight grip, such as that exerted by a person in a panic for fear for their life. This was commonly thought to be a risk when rescuing a drowning person — that they would cling to their rescuer with a death grip which would cause them both to perish. Investigation showed that this did not actually happen in practise and so breaking a death grip is no longer emphasised in lifesaving. The actual behaviour of a drowning person is more passive as they lack the oxygen to take violent action and an instinctive paddling reflex occurs. The grip can also be lethal to living things.
Famous quotes containing the words death and/or grip:
“For death is not the worst, but when one wants to die and is not able even to have that.”
—Sophocles (497–406/5 B.C.)
“The grip that swung the ax in Illinois
Was on the pen that set a people free.”
—Edwin Markham (1852–1940)