The 'Elephant Man' Joseph Merrick was a sufferer, the deformation increased, and he was an attraction at freak shows. His head grew so big that his neck was losing its ability to support it. He was in constant misery, yet subject to ridicule. Because the needed to make a conscious effort to support his head, eventually he must have decided he couldn't carry on, stopped supporting his head, and died of suicide by asphyxiation.