I had the flu once - passed out from coughing, and hit my head on a doorknob on the way down. Needed stitches at the hospital
I had a similar experience except I strained the lower back muscles laid on the floor unable to move for two days. Had to wait for the wife to get back home. ....ended up in rehab for six weeks. Awful experience.
It’s true, you can pass out from things like this. But by the time you drop dead and have to be dragged out feet first, you’ve already been seriously sick for at least a couple of days and probably wouldn’t be out trotting along the street.
That said, who knows what’s going on there.