A sudden "You are dead" ?

[neal121 5]

I was walking down the firestation steps from the tower and suddenly screen goes black "You are dead" 

 

... no idea why. Only thing my character had happen was a broken leg with a splint. He was Hydrated, Healthy, Energized, Hot.

[Geckofrog7 1169]

Firestations. This is why I never trust them.

[VermillionX 78]

Quite often gunshots have no sound effects so it's possible you were headshot and just couldn't hear the shot.

Alternatively, the Bow and Crossbow are silent and a headshot with either will kill you.

 

Or it may just be a bug.

[neal121 5]

I was thinking that my splint had broken thru the rusted step causing him to have a dramatic fall that ripped off his wounded leg where his ballastic helmet had fallen off due to not being properly strapped thus causing his exposed head to come into hard contact with the wall - instantly killing him. 

[MadWookie 573]

Quite often gunshots have no sound effects so it's possible you were headshot and just couldn't hear the shot.

Alternatively, the Bow and Crossbow are silent and a headshot with either will kill you.

 

Or it may just be a bug.

Its more than likely a bug.. I remember whenever I would go onto the second floor of the air control tower at NWAF I would fall through the floor and instantly die. Well I didn't know I fell through the floor at the time but thats what it ended up being. That situation is exactly like this one, walking around one second, the next "You are dead.". So I vote bug.

Although it may have been just a unheard gunshot or bow.

 

I was thinking that my splint had broken thru the rusted step causing him to have a dramatic fall that ripped off his wounded leg where his ballastic helmet had fallen off due to not being properly strapped thus causing his exposed head to come into hard contact with the wall - instantly killing him. 

*slow clap*

[Rags! 1966]

If you didn't hear anything, I'll bet it was diabetes. 

 

It's the silent killer. 

[nettles 396]

My guess is biochemical weapons.  Or someone poisoned the water with bleach.

[Robert Neville 59]

It is most likely a bug.  You get out of sync and suddenly fall through the floor (or stairs).  The fall kills you instantly.  A lot of players died this way.