Somewhat different, but with a touch of the same gruesomeness:
On a visit to The Peloponnese years ago, we visited the uninhabited Island of Spinalonga - which is dominated by a beautiful abandoned Venetian Town once used as a leper colony.
We were told of a medical student living on the mainland who decided to take a boat and see if he could avail himself of a human skull to assist in his studies, from the former leper graveyard.
During his search, the ground under his feet gave way, dropping him into a large mass-burial crypt.
Unable to climb out, he remained there for several days until he was missed by his friends, who took a boat out and lifted him out of the tomb.
We were told he turned his back on medicine and sought a new career
Jim Carroll