Well, I've known a lot of ex-everythings (over the last 40 years). I have never personally known anyone that has died from detox of alcohol, or anything else.
However, I have listened to many, many horror stories (and seen them, acted out, in front of me). In all cases, the benzo withdrawals took forever (like months and years), and included seizures, hallucinations, and neverending insomnia.
Ok. I think we are on the same page. I have never seen a detox death either. I have heard that benzo's are the hardest to withdraw from, and it does sound pretty frightening. For a lot of alcoholics the hardest thing to quit is nicotine. The really scary cases are the folks who start taking Valium to keep from shaking until they start drinking.
However, I have listened to many, many horror stories (and seen them, acted out, in front of me). In all cases, the benzo withdrawals took forever (like months and years), and included seizures, hallucinations, and neverending insomnia.