When you think of sleepwalking, you probably picture someone quietly roaming the hallway in their pajamas. But the truth is far more fascinating – the 10 things sleepwalkers do (other than walk in their sleep) can range from the oddly creative to the downright dangerous. Below we explore each surprising behavior, complete with real‑world examples, legal twists, and even a few headline‑making incidents.

10 Things Sleepwalkers: Why It Matters

10 Have Sex

Sexsomnia is a condition that drives people to engage in sexual activity while fully asleep. Those affected can perform solo acts or even join a partner without ever recalling the episode after waking. While both genders can experience it, men are statistically more likely to be diagnosed.^[2]

This disorder raises serious consent concerns. In 2007, a Royal Air Force mechanic was acquitted of rape after a jury accepted his claim of sexsomnia. Another case involved Kenneth Ecott, who climbed onto an unconscious girl after a party, with the jury concluding he was in a state of “automatism.”

Although several defendants have invoked sexsomnia as a defense, success varies. Courts tend to require documented evidence of parasomnias before accepting the claim, and attempts to ban the defense have largely failed.

9 Drive

Just as someone can walk while asleep, they can also get behind the wheel. Sleep drivers have been known to travel considerable distances, though the exact prevalence remains uncertain. While they may master basic vehicle operation, higher‑order skills like navigation tend to be absent, leaving them on autopilot.

Alcohol can compound the risk. In 2012, Becky Mason of the UK enjoyed several glasses of wine before bedtime, then drove eight kilometres in her pajamas to her office, only to be stopped by a bemused security guard who reminded her it was Saturday night. After returning to retrieve her car, she crashed into a lamppost with a blood‑alcohol level three times the legal limit.

The guard’s testimony proved pivotal; Mason was acquitted of drunk driving on the grounds of automatism. Since then, she’s taken to handing her keys to roommates each night as a precaution.

8 Kill

In 2009, Brian Thomas of Wales was cleared of murdering his wife after he strangled her during a sleepwalking episode. Thomas, a long‑time night‑terror sufferer, typically slept apart from his spouse, but a vacation forced them to share a bed in a camper van.

He had been taking antidepressants for years, but stopped them for the trip to boost his libido. After an evening of relaxation, a nightmare about nearby racing youths triggered a protective fantasy, leading him to choke his wife in his sleep. He later called emergency services, bewildered, reporting that he had strangled her while unconscious.

Historical precedents exist: Albert Tirrell successfully used a sleepwalking defense in 1845 after killing his “mistress.” More famously, Kenneth Parks in 1987 drove 20 km to his in‑laws’ house, murdered his mother‑in‑law, attempted to strangle his father‑in‑law, then drove to a police station to turn himself in. Financial stress from gambling addiction likely contributed, but sleep researchers confirmed a severely disturbed sleep pattern that plausibly precipitated the violent episode.^[4]

7 Get Naked

Finding yourself unclothed in a public space is a common anxiety dream, yet for some somnambulists it becomes a literal reality. One hotel chain even trains staff to handle naked sleepwalkers who wander corridors, often male guests who appear at reception in their birthday suits requesting wake‑up calls or checkout.

Employees keep towels ready to preserve modesty and use master keys to gently guide the bewildered guests back to their rooms.^[5]

Stress, alcohol, and unfamiliar environments can heighten the chance of such episodes. Sleepwalkers may mistakenly believe they’re at home, in a bathroom, or even on a private balcony, when in fact they’re strolling through hotel hallways in the starkest of attire.

6 Talk (Too Much)

Most people experience occasional somniloquy, but a subset of sleepers hold full‑blown conversations with themselves. To awake listeners, the speech may appear nonsensical, yet to the somnambulist it sounds perfectly coherent. Though rarely harmful, sleeptalking can be embarrassingly vulgar.

Genetics play a role; the behavior can run in families and intensify with sleep deprivation, stress, or substance use.^[6] Studies reveal a preponderance of negative words—“no,” swearing, and the like.

Contrary to cinematic portrayals, sleepers rarely divulge deep secrets. In 2001, the Massachusetts Supreme Court overturned a conviction involving alleged indecent assault after finding the jury had been biased by the claim that a child “disclosed” abuse while asleep.

5 Get Creative

Unconsciousness may unlock a hidden well of artistic flair. In 2015, a 13‑year‑old girl was caught on camera playing piano while snoring, her head resting on the instrument yet still managing a recognizable tune.

Painter Lee Hadwin claims he cannot draw while awake, but produces canvases during nocturnal episodes. Critics debate whether his output counts as genuine art or mere doodling, yet his works have attracted buyers worldwide, even catching the eye of high‑profile figures like Donald Trump.^[7]

While many argue true creativity demands conscious intention, evidence suggests the brain can perform certain artistic functions without full awareness.

4 Live The Dream

Most people cherish the idea of a dream coming true, yet for those with REM behavior disorder (RBD), the experience can be perilously literal. During REM sleep, the brain normally disables most muscle activity, leaving only the eyes and diaphragm functional. This paralysis prevents us from enacting our dreams.

RBD sufferers experience incomplete muscle inhibition, causing them to act out vivid dream scenarios—sometimes violently, sometimes humorously, and occasionally mimicking daytime actions like packing imaginary suitcases. They may leap from beds or sprint through rooms, blurring the line between dream and reality.^[8]

Because the sleeper perceives only the dream world, they can sustain real‑world injuries without registering pain or waking up, akin to a reversed “Matrix” experience.

3 Commit Armed Robbery

In 2007, Maria Hudson fell asleep watching television, then donned pink rubber kitchen gloves and a pair of tights over her head. She marched ten minutes to a local convenience store, brandished a 30‑centimetre kitchen knife, and shouted, “Hand over your money!” in a tone reminiscent of a Brad Pitt movie scene.

Police officers quickly restrained her, and she woke with no recollection of the event. Medical experts linked the episode to “insane automatism” triggered by epilepsy.^[9]

Although a shop owner’s relative suffered a slashed wrist, the injury was not life‑threatening. Hudson was ultimately acquitted after a trial.

2 Eat

People with sleep‑related eating disorder (SRED) may maintain a healthy diet while awake, yet binge on bizarre foods during the night. Common choices include high‑sugar spreads like peanut butter or syrup, consumed rapidly before the sleeper returns to bed without waking.

Beyond snacking, SRED sufferers may also cook, exposing them to knife injuries and burns. Their nocturnal meals can range from simple sandwiches to full three‑course affairs, though they often lack awareness of ingredients, making the outcomes unpredictable.

Health repercussions are significant: weight gain, nutritional imbalances, and even dangerous ingestion of non‑food items. Documented cases involve coffee grounds, bacon rinds, paper, and toxic liquids such as bleach. Many find that keeping chocolate readily available is a safer compromise.

1 Balance (On Top Of A Crane)

In 2005, London passersby spotted a teenage girl perched on the arm of a crane, roughly 40 metres above ground, apparently contemplating suicide. Emergency services were summoned, but a firefighter’s cautious approach revealed she was asleep.

The 15‑year‑old had apparently left home, climbed the crane, and walked along its narrow beam while unconscious. Firefighters retrieved her mobile phone, contacted her parents, and gently woke her while positioning crew members to catch her if she fell.

Despite her astonishing feat, rescuers required a hydraulic lift and two and a half hours to lower her safely to the ground.^[11]

These ten astonishing examples illustrate that the world of somnambulism extends far beyond simple hallway wanderings. From illicit robberies to artistic epiphanies, sleepwalkers can surprise us in ways that challenge both law and imagination.

Birthdays are the annual excuse we all need to gather friends, family, and a whole lot of cake, but sometimes the party‑planning script goes wildly off‑track. In this roundup of 10 birthday bashes, we dive into the most jaw‑dropping, bizarre, and downright dangerous moments that turned ordinary celebrations into unforgettable (and often terrifying) memories.

10 Birthday Bashes: The Crazy Countdown

10 Birthday Bash Turns Into Gator Dash

On August 14, 2021, Donnie Wiseman, his wife Theresa, and his six‑year‑old stepson found themselves at a five‑year‑old’s birthday party in West Valley, Utah, hosted by Scales and Tails. Wiseman, a self‑confessed reptile aficionado, had reluctantly agreed to attend after a long construction shift, hoping to catch a glimpse of the facility’s star attraction: an 11‑year‑old, 8.5‑foot, 150‑pound alligator affectionately called “Darth Gator.” Little did he know that he would become part of the show.

When the handler, Lindsay Bull, cracked open the enclosure door to feed the gator, the massive reptile got a little “extra spunky.” Darth Gator tried to climb onto the platform, prompting Bull to command the animal to back up. Instead of obeying, the alligator latched onto Bull’s hand, preparing for its signature death roll.

Realizing the danger, Bull pulled herself into the pool to avoid a potentially fatal spin, while Wiseman shouted for assistance. When no help arrived, he sprang into action, diving into the enclosure, wrestling the gator with his bare hands, and leaping onto its back to pin it down.

Using his full 180‑pound (81 kg) weight, Wiseman pressed down on the creature while Bull instructed him to push his fists into the gator’s snout. This tactical move flipped the power dynamic, turning predator into prey. After a tense minute of calm, the alligator finally released Bull’s hand.

With Bull still trapped, Todd Christopher managed to grab her under the arms and pull her free, while Wiseman, still straddling the reptile, followed Bull’s guidance to climb off safely. Amy Christopher, a nurse, tended to Bull’s injuries until paramedics arrived. Bull was rushed to a local hospital where she required surgery on her hand, but she is expected to make a full recovery and is already eager to return to work.

9 Party Pooper… Literally!

A sweet sixteen is usually synonymous with glitter, glam, and the promise of newfound freedom. For Jacinda Cambray, however, her May 17, 2015 celebration in Levittown, Pennsylvania, turned into a night she’ll never forget—for all the wrong reasons.

Cambray’s backyard pool party, attended by roughly 40 friends, was proceeding smoothly when, out of nowhere, something brown began plummeting from the sky. Instead of confetti, a shower of human feces rained down on the gathering, prompting a frantic scramble for shelter.

Fortunately, the cake had already been moved indoors, and a sturdy canopy mitigated most of the impact, sparing guests from direct contact. A quick‑thinking relative, Kristie Rogy, used a smartphone app to discover that five aircraft were overhead at the exact moment of the incident.

The family lodged a formal complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration, which launched an investigation. The FAA confirmed that all planes are required to dispose of waste at designated airports, making the airborne mishap a clear violation.

Cambray’s sweet sixteen will forever be remembered for this shocking, unsanitary surprise—a stark reminder that sometimes the sky really does fall.

8 Bear Crashes Birthday Picnic and Enjoys Mexican Feast

On September 25, 2023, Silvia Macías, her son Santiago, and friends Nathalia Fuentes and Angela Chapa headed to the Chinique Ecological Park in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico, to celebrate Santiago’s 15th birthday. The festive picnic took an unexpected turn when a black bear leaped onto their table, devouring tacos, enchiladas, fries, and salsa meant for the birthday boy.

Knowing Santiago, who has Down syndrome and a pronounced fear of animals, the family had pre‑planned a “statue” game: they would cover Santiago’s eyes and remain motionless if a bear appeared. When the bear arrived, Macías covered Santiago’s eyes, held him close, and stared down, keeping her gaze low to avoid provoking the animal.

Chapa, who was filming the incident, spotted a plate of untouched enchiladas. She waved the food, then tossed the container away, successfully diverting the bear’s attention. As the bear followed the discarded meal, Chapa positioned herself in front of it, allowing Macías and Santiago to retreat slowly.

The bear eventually sauntered off, and the family resumed the celebration. Santiago’s tacos were replaced, and the birthday continued without further wildlife interference.

7 Cake and Chaos: Four‑Year‑Old’s Party Ruined in Police Fiasco

Stephanie Bures and her family were marking her four‑year‑old son T.J.’s birthday on February 10, 2019, in a modest Chicago basement apartment. The festivities were abruptly shattered when a squad of 17 plain‑clothes Chicago police officers burst in, weapons drawn, shouting, “Get your hands up! We’re doing a raid!”

Relative Kiqiana Jackson, stunned, demanded identification and a search warrant. The officers, ignoring the request, handcuffed several adults—including Jackson—right in front of the children, then proceeded to ransack the apartment.

According to the family, the police tore doors off hinges, pried open wall panels, flipped mattresses, smashed a large‑screen TV, doused clothing in vodka, doused T.J.’s presents in peroxide, and demolished the birthday cake. They allegedly shouted profanity, insulted the family, and even joked while questioning the children.

The raid’s justification only emerged moments before the officers left: a mistakenly delivered search warrant targeting a 46‑year‑old alleged ecstasy dealer who had not lived in the building for over five years. The Bures family sued the Chicago Police Department, resulting in a $350,000 settlement approved by the city council’s finance committee on September 3, 2020.

6 Birthday Dinner Ends in Flames

Samantha Myers, a resident of Greene County, Arkansas, woke up on February 9, 2020, to a chorus of “Happy Birthday” from her husband and children. After church and a surprise card, the family whisked her away to Kimono Japanese Steakhouse in Paragould for a celebratory dinner.

The evening took a disastrous turn when, after the chef finished cooking, he crafted a heart shape on the hibachi grill and set it ablaze. While attempting a second heart, a sudden fireball erupted, exploding and igniting both Myers and the chef.

In sheer panic, Myers sprinted to the bathroom, dousing herself with water to extinguish the flames. Her mother‑in‑law rushed to assist, repeatedly asking staff for burn cream, but received none. The duo fled the restaurant for the hospital, leaving the rest of the party to finish their meal.

Myers suffered first‑ and second‑degree burns on her face, neck, and chest, an eye infection, and singed eyebrows and lashes. The chef’s injuries were not disclosed. While Kimono offered to cover her medical expenses, Myers announced plans to sue the establishment.

5 Elderly Woman’s Birthday Dinner Party Interrupted by Masked Intruders

Wendy Melvin organized a modest dinner in Squamish, British Columbia, to honor her mother’s 77th birthday on December 17, 2022. As guests were about to cut the cake, two unexpected guests—masked, furry, and surprisingly well‑behaved—crashed the celebration.

The intruders turned out to be raccoons. They explored every chair, posed for photographs, and ultimately curled up into two sleepy, furry balls, dozing peacefully for the remainder of the evening.

4 Birthday Celebration Turns Brutal with a Nose‑Biting Twist

On April 5, 2019, Shane Groves celebrated his birthday at the Progressive Club in Sutton‑in‑Ashfield. The night spiraled into violence when Groves hurled homophobic slurs at his brother’s friend, prompting his brother to intervene.

In retaliation, Groves threw a chair at the friend and later attempted a headbutt on his own brother. The force caused Groves to clamp his teeth onto his brother’s nose, severing the tip, which landed on the club floor.

Groves’ brother was rushed to Queen’s Medical Centre, where surgeons attempted to reattach the nose, but the procedure failed. The COVID‑19 pandemic delayed the required series of reconstructive surgeries. Groves later pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and received a 25‑month prison sentence on November 5, 2020.

3 Family Birthday Party Ends in Heartbreak After Freak Accident

Family birthday gatherings are meant for joy, yet on July 11, 2021, a two‑year‑old named Delilah Hunt turned a celebration in Gordonville, Texas, into tragedy. While seated on a four‑wheeler during the party, a nearby truck’s AC compressor plate catastrophically detached and struck her in the head.

Delilah was air‑lifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas in critical condition. Despite intensive care, she was taken off life support on July 14, 2021, and pronounced dead.

2 Tragedy at the Adventure Center

The Kong Adventure Centre in Keswick, England, boasts a state‑of‑the‑art climbing wall, bouldering rooms, an artificial caving system, and a children’s hard‑play area. What began as a birthday outing for Carl O’Keeffe’s niece on April 22, 2023, turned disastrous when O’Keeffe became trapped inside the centre’s 229‑foot (70‑meter) caving network.

Staff were unable to free him, prompting the deployment of six emergency crews, including Cumbria Fire and Rescue, police, mountain rescue, ore‑mines rescue, air ambulance, and a hazardous‑area response team. After over four hours, O’Keeffe was finally extricated and rushed to Cumberland Infirmary’s intensive care unit with severe crush injuries.

Sadly, on April 30, 2023, O’Keeffe succumbed to multiple organ failure, as confirmed by his sister Olivia Short.

1 Drunk Driver Crashes Into Party and Kills 2, Injures 15 Guests

On April 20, 2024, a child’s birthday party at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Charter Township, Michigan, turned fatal when a car hurtled 25 feet (7.6 meters) into the building, killing four‑year‑old Zayn Phillips and his eight‑year‑old sister Alanah Phillips, and wounding 15 others.

The driver, 66‑year‑old Marshella Marie Chidester, faced charges of two counts of second‑degree homicide, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.

Chidester claimed she suddenly “blacked out” and had no recollection of entering the boat club’s parking lot, attributing the crash to a seizure. However, prosecutors noted a breath test indicating a blood‑alcohol level well above the legal limit, and highlighted that she was drinking despite medication that prohibited alcohol.

Victims’ attorneys have sued the boat club, alleging inadequate safety design for its remote location, and have also filed claims against Verna’s Tavern, the bar Chidester reportedly visited before the crash.