Harry Houdini died on October 31, 1926, at the age of 52 from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix. The rupture likely followed acute appendicitis, which may have been triggered or worsened by a series of punches he received to his abdomen about a week and a half earlier
. On October 22, 1926, while in Montreal, Houdini was unexpectedly punched multiple times in the stomach by a McGill University student named Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead, who challenged Houdini's claim that he could withstand any blow to the abdomen. Houdini was caught off guard and unable to brace himself due to a broken ankle, causing him significant pain afterward. Despite this, Houdini continued performing several shows over the following days, ignoring worsening symptoms including fever and abdominal pain
. Eventually, Houdini was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and advised to have immediate surgery, but he postponed treatment to continue performing. After collapsing during his last show in Detroit, he was hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery to remove the ruptured appendix. Despite two operations and treatment, he developed sepsis and died six days later
. While it remains uncertain if the punches directly caused the appendix to rupture, some doctors suggest the trauma could have contributed, though others believe the appendicitis was already developing before the blows. Houdini's reluctance to seek prompt medical care likely worsened his condition
. In summary, Houdini died from complications of a ruptured appendix and peritonitis, with the abdominal punches possibly playing a role in triggering or exacerbating his fatal condition
