There's something almost poetic about a flowing scarf dancing in the breeze—until that very elegance becomes a death trap. For Adelaide influencer Eli Moulton, what began as a glamorous evening out nearly ended in tragedy when her beautiful accessory transformed into a potential noose.
The 26-year-old mum-of-two had just attended a BMW car dealership launch in Adelaide, looking stunning in a black tube dress paired with a flowing sheer black scarf. But as she left the event, her fashion choice nearly cost her everything.
The scarf became trapped under her moving car, yanking violently at her neck and leaving a thick red burn mark that serves as a stark reminder of how quickly style can turn sinister.
'Fashion is a dangerous business, you poor thing'
Moulton's brush with disaster occurred as she departed the Glenelg BMW launch on 11 August, when the scarf accidentally caught under the moving car, yanking fiercely at her neck and leaving a pronounced red burn mark.
Sharing her ordeal on Instagram, she joked initially about the dress having her in a 'chokehold'—slang for being obsessed with something—before revealing it had literally done just that.
A century-old warning ignored
Moulton's accident eerily echoes a tragedy from nearly a century ago, when dancer Isadora Duncan was strangled in Nice, France, on September 14, 1927, after her enormous silk scarf became tangled in the rear hubcaps of her open car and wound around the axle, dragging her from the car onto the cobblestone street.
The parallel is chilling. Both women were passengers in fashionable cars, both wore flowing scarves, and both nearly lost their lives to the same deadly combination of fabric and moving machinery.
What is Isadora Duncan Syndrome?
Medical professionals have actually coined the term 'Isadora Duncan syndrome' for accidental strangulation and neck injuries caused by scarves or similar accessories becoming caught in moving vehicles or machinery. Named after the famous dancer who died in 1927 when her scarf caught in a car wheel, the syndrome can cause serious injuries, including laryngeal rupture, carotid artery damage, and in worst cases, death.
Duncan's scarf was a long, flowing, hand-painted silk creation by Russian artist Roman Chatov. Her friend Mary Desti had asked her to wear a cape in the open-air vehicle because of the cold weather, but Duncan agreed to wear only the scarf. Before getting into the car, she reportedly said to her companions, 'Adieu, mes amis. Je vais à la gloire!' (Goodbye, my friends, I am off to glory!).
Those would be her final words.
More common than you might think
While Moulton's accident might seem like a one-in-a-million occurrence, scarf injuries have proven deadly elsewhere, with a forensic case reporting an agricultural worker decapitated when a scarf tangled in machinery.
Research from China found that scarves and shawls were involved in 13.5 per cent of children's clothing-related accidents, with long drawstrings causing neck entanglement in 13 per cent of cases.
Studies from Bangladesh describe 'scarf injuries' in autorickshaw traffic, where scarves caught in driveshafts cause cervical spinal trauma, often leading to paralysis or death.
In Australia, head and neck injuries are the most common body parts affected in fall hospitalisations, partly reflecting the inherently serious nature of such injuries. While specific scarf-related accident statistics aren't readily available for Australia, the potential for serious injury is clear.
The hidden dangers in your wardrobe
Safety authorities warn that scarves can pose strangulation risks if they get caught in equipment or everyday items, including playground equipment, and can strangle if they get caught around the neck.
For Australian seniors who often favour scarves for both style and warmth, the risks multiply with age. Workplace safety data shows that injury frequency rates and severity generally increase with age, with those aged 55-64 and over 65 having the highest serious injury rates.
Scarf Safety Essentials
- Remove or secure scarves before entering or operating any vehicle or heavy machinery
- Opt for shorter, snug scarves when mobility is required
- Be mindful of wind or moving parts—even innocent accessories can become hazards
- Choose scarves with safety clasps that release under pressure
- Avoid overly long or flowing scarves in windy conditions
- Never wear loose scarves near escalators, lifts, or revolving doors
Fashion versus function
The incident raises important questions about the balance between style and safety. Silk scarves are beloved for their ability to transition seamlessly from day to night, casual to formal, with their lightweight, breathable texture ensuring comfort while adding elegant touches to outfits.
Fashion trends for 2025 show headscarves making a major comeback, evoking vintage Hollywood glamour, while neckerchiefs remain a classic style for adding a polished, chic touch to any outfit.
But as Moulton's experience demonstrates, even the most beautiful accessories can pose unexpected dangers.
Learning from near misses
Moulton's recovery has been positive. Taking to Instagram Stories, she showed her neck wound with characteristic humour: 'Not even the Paris filter can help me. We are off to get this medically dressed—don't worry, folks. My spirits are still high, thriving, and surviving.'
Her followers have responded with both concern and gratitude for her warning. The comments reveal how relatable her experience is—many admit they've never considered the potential dangers of flowing accessories.
A timeless lesson
The accident gave rise to writer Gertrude Stein's mordant remark that 'affectations can be dangerous.' Nearly a century later, those words ring as true as ever.
The tragedy isn't that we should abandon beautiful accessories, but that we should approach them with the same thoughtfulness we'd apply to any potentially hazardous situation. A scarf is, after all, essentially a long piece of fabric that can catch, snag, and trap.
For seniors especially, who may have slightly slower reflexes or reduced mobility, extra caution around flowing accessories becomes even more critical. The elegance of a flowing scarf isn't worth a trip to the emergency department.
Modern fashion, ancient wisdom
As we embrace 2025's fashion trends, perhaps it's time to blend style with old-fashioned common sense. Moulton's message is simple: glamour should not cost safety. Before slipping on that next flowing scarf, pause and choose prudence over peril.
Whether you're heading to a glamorous event or simply popping down to the shops, remember Eli Moulton's close call. Check your scarf, secure loose ends, and perhaps choose a shorter style when you'll be around moving parts of any kind.
What This Means For You
After all, the best accessory you can wear is your safety awareness.
Have you ever had a close call with clothing or accessories? Or do you have tips for wearing scarves safely while maintaining style? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—your story might just prevent someone else's accident.
Original Article
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/f...t/news-story/acbf4268b08085c05056a4eb0bcee194
Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2024 | dataswa
Cited text: The latest data, for 2021-22, highlight that 3.5 per cent of people who worked in the previous 12 months experienced a work-related injury or illness.
Excerpt: Moulton's brush with disaster occurred as she departed the Glenelg BMW launch on 11 August, when the scarf accidentally caught under the moving car, yanking fiercely at her neck and leaving a pronounced red burn mark.
https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/insights/key-whs-statistics-australia/latest-release
Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2024 | dataswa
Cited text:
Excerpt: Moulton's brush with disaster occurred as she departed the Glenelg BMW launch on 11 August, when the scarf accidentally caught under the moving car, yanking fiercely at her neck and leaving a pronounced red burn mark.
https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/insights/key-whs-statistics-australia/latest-release
Dancer Isadora Duncan is killed in car accident | September 14, 1927 | HISTORY
Cited text: On September 14, 1927, dancer Isadora Duncan is strangled in Nice, France, when the enormous silk scarf she is wearing gets tangled in the rear hubcap...
Excerpt: Moulton's accident eerily echoes a tragedy from nearly a century ago, when dancer Isadora Duncan was strangled in Nice, France, on September 14, 1927, after her enormous silk scarf became tangled in the rear hubcaps of her open car and…
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dancer-isadora-duncan-is-killed-in-car-accident
Dancer Isadora Duncan is killed in car accident | September 14, 1927 | HISTORY
Cited text: It wound around the axle, tightening around Duncan’s neck and dragging her from the car and onto the cobblestone street.
Excerpt: Moulton's accident eerily echoes a tragedy from nearly a century ago, when dancer Isadora Duncan was strangled in Nice, France, on September 14, 1927, after her enormous silk scarf became tangled in the rear hubcaps of her open car and…
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dancer-isadora-duncan-is-killed-in-car-accident
Survival from accidental strangulation from a scarf resulting in laryngeal rupture and carotid artery stenosis: the 'Isadora Duncan syndrome'. A case report and review of literature - PubMed
Cited text: In 1929 the dancer Isadora Duncan died from strangulation and carotid artery insult when her scarf caught in the wheels of a motor vehicle in which sh...
Excerpt: Medical professionals have actually coined the term 'Isadora Duncan syndrome' for accidental strangulation and neck injuries caused by scarves or similar accessories becoming caught in moving vehicles or machinery.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12835372/
Australian Influencer 'Nearly Decapitated' in Freak Scarf Accident — And Why It Could Happen to You Too | IBTimes UK
Cited text: The tragedy even coined the term 'Isadora Duncan Syndrome' for neckwear-related accidents.
Excerpt: Medical professionals have actually coined the term 'Isadora Duncan syndrome' for accidental strangulation and neck injuries caused by scarves or similar accessories becoming caught in moving vehicles or machinery.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australia...-accident-why-it-could-happen-you-too-1741588
Isadora Duncan - Wikipedia
Cited text: She wore a long, flowing, hand-painted silk scarf, created by the Russian-born artist Roman Chatov, a gift from her friend Mary Desti, the mother of A...
Excerpt: Duncan's scarf was a long, flowing, hand-painted silk creation by Russian artist Roman Chatov.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isadora_Duncan
1927 Isadora Duncan freak accident death... - RareNewspapers.com
Cited text: Before getting into the car, she reportedly said to her friend Mary Desti and some companions, 'Adieu, mes amis.
Excerpt: Before getting into the car, she reportedly said to her companions, 'Adieu, mes amis.
https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/580841
1927 Isadora Duncan freak accident death... - RareNewspapers.com
Cited text: (Goodbye, my friends, I am off to glory!).
Excerpt: Je vais à la gloire!' (Goodbye, my friends, I am off to glory!).
https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/580841
Australian Influencer 'Nearly Decapitated' in Freak Scarf Accident — And Why It Could Happen to You Too | IBTimes UK
Cited text: While such events are rare in Australia, scarf injuries have proven deadly elsewhere.
Excerpt: scarf injuries have proven deadly elsewhere, with a forensic case reporting an agricultural worker decapitated when a scarf tangled in machinery.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australia...-accident-why-it-could-happen-you-too-1741588
Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2024 | dataswa
Cited text: These differences are at least in part due to the different types of work that men and women undertake across the Australian labour market. ...
Excerpt: scarf injuries have proven deadly elsewhere, with a forensic case reporting an agricultural worker decapitated when a scarf tangled in machinery.
https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/insights/key-whs-statistics-australia/latest-release
Injury in Australia: Falls - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Cited text:
Excerpt: Research from China found that scarves and shawls were involved in 13.5 per cent of children's clothing-related accidents, with long drawstrings causing neck entanglement in 13 per cent of cases.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/falls
Australian Influencer 'Nearly Decapitated' in Freak Scarf Accident — And Why It Could Happen to You Too | IBTimes UK
Cited text: Likewise, a study from Bangladesh describes 'scarf injuries' in autorickshaw traffic; scarves caught in driveshafts causing cervical spinal trauma, of...
Excerpt: Studies from Bangladesh describe 'scarf injuries' in autorickshaw traffic, where scarves caught in driveshafts cause cervical spinal trauma, often leading to paralysis or death.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australia...-accident-why-it-could-happen-you-too-1741588
Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2024 | dataswa
Cited text: The frequency rate, median time lost, and median compensation costs of serious claims generally increase with age.
Excerpt: Studies from Bangladesh describe 'scarf injuries' in autorickshaw traffic, where scarves caught in driveshafts cause cervical spinal trauma, often leading to paralysis or death.
https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/insights/key-whs-statistics-australia/latest-release
Injury in Australia, Summary - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Cited text:
Excerpt: head and neck injuries are the most common body parts affected in fall hospitalisations, partly reflecting the inherently serious nature of such injuries.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/injury-in-australia/contents/summary
Silk Scarves in 2025: Must-Have Fashion Trends & Styling Tips | DOCSUN
Cited text: ...
Excerpt: Safety authorities warn that scarves can pose strangulation risks if they get caught in equipment or everyday items, including playground equipment, and can strangle if they get caught around the neck.
https://www.docsunhomeandliving.com...ust-have-fashion-trends-amp-styling-tips.html
Silk Scarves in 2025: Must-Have Fashion Trends & Styling Tips | DOCSUN
Cited text: ... DOCSUN provides a range of sizes, from small 53cm scarves to larger 110cm options.
Excerpt: Safety authorities warn that scarves can pose strangulation risks if they get caught in equipment or everyday items, including playground equipment, and can strangle if they get caught around the neck.
https://www.docsunhomeandliving.com...ust-have-fashion-trends-amp-styling-tips.html
An analysis of children's clothing-related injuries cases reported by the media in mainland of China from 2003 to 2017 - PMC
Cited text: A significant relationship was observed between death and accidental suffocation. Most cases were associated with the entanglement of a drawstring (be...
Excerpt: Workplace safety data shows that injury frequency rates and severity generally increase with age, with those aged 55-64 and over 65 having the highest serious injury rates.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7478676/
Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2024 | dataswa
Cited text: Median time lost from work-related injuries and illnesses has been increasing ...This provides statistics about people who die from an injury sustaine...
Excerpt: - Remove or secure scarves before entering or operating any vehicle or heavy machinery - Opt for shorter, snug scarves when mobility is required - Be mindful of wind or moving parts - even innocent accessories can become hazards
https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/insights/key-whs-statistics-australia/latest-release
Australian Influencer 'Nearly Decapitated' in Freak Scarf Accident — And Why It Could Happen to You Too | IBTimes UK
Cited text: Glad we still have each other'. ... Eli Moulton's Instagram post after near-decapitation.
Excerpt: Silk scarves are beloved for their ability to transition seamlessly from day to night, casual to formal, with their lightweight, breathable texture ensuring comfort while adding elegant touches to outfits.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australia...-accident-why-it-could-happen-you-too-1741588
Australian Influencer 'Nearly Decapitated' in Freak Scarf Accident — And Why It Could Happen to You Too | IBTimes UK
Cited text: A forensic case reported a tragic agricultural worker decapitated when a scarf tangled in machinery, illustrating that scarves and moving parts can sp...
Excerpt: Fashion trends for 2025 show headscarves making a major comeback, evoking vintage Hollywood glamour, while neckerchiefs remain a classic style for adding a polished, chic touch to any outfit.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australia...-accident-why-it-could-happen-you-too-1741588
Australian Influencer 'Nearly Decapitated' in Freak Scarf Accident — And Why It Could Happen to You Too | IBTimes UK
Cited text: As she departed, the scarf accidentally caught under the moving car, yanking fiercely at her neck and leaving a pronounced red burn mark. ... 'Not eve...
Excerpt: Fashion trends for 2025 show headscarves making a major comeback, evoking vintage Hollywood glamour, while neckerchiefs remain a classic style for adding a polished, chic touch to any outfit.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australia...-accident-why-it-could-happen-you-too-1741588
Isadora Duncan - Wikipedia
Cited text: The accident gave rise to Gertrude Stein's remark that 'affectations can be dangerous'.
Excerpt: The accident gave rise to writer Gertrude Stein's mordant remark that 'affectations can be dangerous.'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isadora_Duncan
1927 Isadora Duncan freak accident death... - RareNewspapers.com
Cited text: The accident gave rise to Gertrude Stein's mordant remark that 'affectations can be dangerous.'
Excerpt: The accident gave rise to writer Gertrude Stein's mordant remark that 'affectations can be dangerous.'
https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/580841
Australian Influencer 'Nearly Decapitated' in Freak Scarf Accident — And Why It Could Happen to You Too | IBTimes UK
Cited text: Moulton's message is simple: glamour should not cost safety. So before slipping on that next flowing scarf, pause and choose prudence over peril....
Excerpt: Moulton's message is simple: glamour should not cost safety. Before slipping on that next flowing scarf, pause and choose prudence over peril.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australia...-accident-why-it-could-happen-you-too-1741588
Seniors Discount Club
Latest Articles
-
‘A bit scary’: Perth mum's sudden encounter reminds us why prevention beats treatment
- Started by Michelle Engbino
- Replies: 0
-
Simple accessory becomes deadly hazard: 'Fashion is a dangerous business'
- Started by Gian T
- Replies: 0
-
AI has produced 2 new antibiotics to kill ‘superbugs’. It’s promising – but we shouldn’t get too excited yet
- Started by The Conversation
- Replies: 0
-
-
When the camera catches what posties don't want you to see... How do you react?
- Started by Michelle Engbino
- Replies: 0
