Forget satellites. These are the things that could kill you

YOU have bigger things to worry about than the European meteorological satellite that will soon crash into the planet. Let's start with hippos.

A ferocious storm is more likely to take your life than a terrorist strike. Picture: Thinkstock

A ONE-TONNE European satellite will come dangerously close to human heads in hours, but while it sounds terrifying you have bigger things to worry about.

The chance of a human being killed by satellite debris is 65000 times lower than being struck down by lightning, according to the European Space Agency.

While US woman Lottie Williams claimed she was hit by space debris in 1997, in reality you are far more likely to die falling down the stairs or being gored by a cranky hippo.

YOUR CHANCES OF BEING KILLED BY ...

... a hippo - More than 2900 people are killed in incidents involving hippopotamuses each year in Africa (**)

Hippos kill more humans than any other large animal in Africa each year. Picture: Thinkstock

... a catastrophic asteroid strike - 1 in 74,817,414

Thankfully the chances of global apocalypse taking your life are low. Picture: Thinkstock

... an exploding firework - 1 in 50,729,141

There's a reason we keep them on boats. Picture: Daily Telegraph

... a bee-sting - 1 in 25,364,571

Just as frightening as it looks. Picture: Thinkstock

... a terrorist attack - 1 in 20,000,000 (*)

The chances of a terrorist strike claiming your life is low in Western countries. Picture: Thinkstock

... a lightning strike - 1 in 2,271,454

A ferocious storm is more likely to take your life than a terrorist strike. Picture: Thinkstock

... falling down the stairs- 1 in 157,300

Needless to say, you need to watch your step. Picture: Thinkstock

SOURCES:

Most figures US only and were compiled by The Economist magazine unless otherwise stated.

* African Wildlife Foundation

** Statistic supplied by UN al-Qaeda/Tabilian Monitoring Team

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