<Li> Karel Soucek (1947--1985) was a Canadian professional stuntman who developed a shock - absorbent barrel . He died following a demonstration involving the barrel being dropped from the roof of the Houston Astrodome . He was fatally wounded when his barrel hit the rim of the water tank meant to cushion his fall . </Li> <Ul> <Li> Valerian Abakovsky (1895--1921) constructed the Aerowagon, an experimental high - speed railcar fitted with an aircraft engine and propeller traction; it was intended to carry Soviet officials . On 24 July 1921, a group led by Fyodor Sergeyev took the Aerowagon from Moscow to the Tula collieries to test it, with Abakovsky also on board . They successfully arrived in Tula, but on the return route to Moscow the Aerowagon derailed at high speed, killing everyone on board, including Abakovsky (at the age of 25). </Li> </Ul> <Li> Valerian Abakovsky (1895--1921) constructed the Aerowagon, an experimental high - speed railcar fitted with an aircraft engine and propeller traction; it was intended to carry Soviet officials . On 24 July 1921, a group led by Fyodor Sergeyev took the Aerowagon from Moscow to the Tula collieries to test it, with Abakovsky also on board . They successfully arrived in Tula, but on the return route to Moscow the Aerowagon derailed at high speed, killing everyone on board, including Abakovsky (at the age of 25). </Li> <Ul> <Li> Max Valier (1895--1930) invented liquid - fuelled rocket engines as a member of the 1920s German rocketeering society Verein für Raumschiffahrt . On 17 May 1930, an alcohol - fuelled engine exploded on his test bench in Berlin, killing him instantly . </Li> </Ul>

Which of these scientists lost their life as consequences of their own discovery