Why the ‘Death Rattle’ Sound Draws Attention in a Person’s Final Hours

Published 19:22 11 Nov 2026 GMT

According to one hospice nurse, the sound is created by a buildup of saliva in the mouth

It's a medical phenomenon which is said to indicate that a person is just 24 hours away from death, but what is the 'death rattle', and how do you spot it?

While our last days on this mortal plane are something which most of us prefer not to think about, it should come as no surprise that our bodies follow a series of processes when they begin to shut down for good.

This includes an eerie phenomenon called the 'death rattle'.

For those who've never heard of the death rattle before, it's described as a 'crackling, wet noise' or 'gurgling sound' which happens when a dying person breathes.

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The noise is created by a saliva buildup in the person's mouth, referred to as terminal secretions, meaning that each breath is travelling over the buildup, thus creating the crackling sound.

The death rattle is a sign someone is approaching the end of their life (Getty Stock Images)

A normal, healthy person would instinctively clear the saliva out of their mouth, but for a person who is in the final stages of life, the brain no longer signals for the body to clear it.

If you're curious about what the death rattle sounds like, you can also listen here.

Alongside the crackling or rattling sound made when breathing, Medical News Today explains that the following symptoms occur during the final stages of life:

The death rattle can sometimes sound as though a person is choking, which is understandably distressing for a loved one's family members, however MNT notes that there is currently no evidence to suggest that a person making this noise is aware or in any pain.

"It's all very normal and part of the death and dying process if you are dying naturally at home," Hospice Nurse Julie, a palliative care worker who creates content around death and dying, previously explained in one of her videos.

When a loved one emits a death rattle noise, the best thing to do is make them comfortable (Getty Stock Images)

As the death rattle is associated with a person being in the final stages of their life, the best thing to do for a person making this sound is to make them as comfortable as possible.

This can include turning a person on their side, using suction to drain excess secretions from the mouth and limiting a person's fluid intake.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Health