Death by Beard....

Hans Steininger and his amazing beard. Sometime in the 1560's Hans beard was a mere 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) long. He is famous for 2 things;

1. Having the longest recorded beard in early history

2. Being killed by his beard

So how did it happen?

Renowned for the world’s longest beard that measured four and a half feet long, the bristly Austrian wasn’t expecting to die from his formidable furry feat. But that he did. According to folklore Hans would keep his beard rolled up in a leather pouch, but failed to do so one day in 1567. During a fire, Steininger stumbled on his beard while trying to beat the heat and broke his neck from the fall.

In his hometown, Braunau am inn, Austria, on the outside walls of St. Stephan’s church various valuable epitaphs can be found, among them the one of Hans.

Today his 445-year old beard is kept in the town museum and Steininger has become one of the town’s most famous inhabitants.

Braunau am inn has one other (in)famous son........any ideas?