Episode 110. Ten Selfies They Paid with Their Lives For
CONTACT US: Email: paranaughtica@gmail.com Twitter: @paranaughtica Facebook: The Paranaughtica PodcastContact Cricket: Website: www.theindividuale.com Twitter: @Individualethe Hey everyone! I just wanted to say really quick that I am sorry that I didn’t get this out sooner. It’s been a long week. My god. At any rate, we have a great one for you today – well, “I” have a great one for you today as Cricket is not here with us.....today.He said something about getting an emergency circumcision for the fourth time. I don’t know how that can even happen. And I don’t have any answers. But like, is that even possible? .....Only ‘so’ much skin can grow there, right?Maybe he has this thing going on where his foreskin consistently grows and if he doesn’t get it trimmed up it might just become a giant skin-blob that will eventually just calcify and rot from the inside and then you get all those maggots and bot fly’s that love those areas and will hang out on the premises as if they own them. Now, I’m glad we got that figured out and it can be behind us. For now......But like I said. I have this sweet banger of a show for you today. I go over ten cases (more really) where people tried a smidgen too hard, they pushed it a little too far, and they ended up passing on over to wherever, and whatever, that is.This is a pretty crazy episode and you’ll be happy you listened to it.Don’t forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe....and give us 5-star reviews.CHECK YOUR LOCAL WATER TREATMENT LEVELS: EWG Tap Water DatabaseOh, to check out a small batch of Coops’ music, go to this this link — https://on.soundcloud.com/Q1XRaY9WSpzawV9r7 ***If you’d like to help out with a donation and you’re currently listening on Spotify, you can simply scroll down on my page and you’ll see a button to help us out with either a one-time donation or you can set up a monthly recurring donation. You can also go to the Facebook page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alright, we're going to get into this really quick.
Just need one moment to prepare, get ready for this groundbreaking episode.
Alright. Ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome back to the Paranautica Podcast.
Thank you for joining me today.
It's just me.
Cricket's not here.
He is getting his foreskin removed for the third time.
Don't ask me why.
Don't ask me any questions about it.
I don't know.
So it's going to be me today.
And what I am going to be covering is, well, basically 10 people who died from taking selfies in recent times.
It's going to be a crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy shit show of a show.
Yeah, so I hope you all are doing well.
Just getting ready here, getting all the stuff put up.
It's been a rough week, I can say that.
I was supposed to record on Sunday, but man, I got between like Friday till Monday, I only had nine hours of sleep.
And that's just being conservative with it.
I did not sleep well.
Most of you know I suffer from insomnia, which is the fucking worst.
I tell you, it's the fucking worst.
When you don't sleep, and you're laying in bed, and your mind is not shutting off, and you know you need to go to sleep, you go crazy.
You fucking go crazy.
And I was about to go fucking crazy.
I was about to go really crazy.
But, you know, I made it through, and we didn't record Sunday.
We're supposed to record Monday, but again, I could not sleep Sunday night, so we're like, alright, Tuesday, we're doing this Tuesday.
Tuesday comes and goes, didn't do it, and we're like, okay, Wednesday is the day.
Wednesday we're doing it.
Cricket's on board, let's go.
And today's the day.
It's Wednesday, the 8th, I believe.
About to record, and then Cricket's like, oh, sorry, I'm really just not feeling it today.
So I'm like, well, I guess it's just me then.
Like, you know, back in the day.
So, we're going to go into this alone again.
Which is, I don't know, sometimes it's better.
Sometimes it's better just do this alone.
But I enjoy having a co-host with me so we can bounce off each other.
Anyway. Yeah, anyway.
We're going to cover 10 people who died from taking selfies in recent times.
But really quick.
Let's just cover news really quick.
I'm not going to go crazy with it, but...
You know, the UK government just voted against investigating the gang rapes they have going on over there.
They've been going on for like 20 years where these gangs of rapers just go around.
I guess they're Muslims too, I guess.
Muslim gangs.
They go around and they just rape people.
And the UK government has been protecting them for years?
Decades? And today, or yesterday...
The last couple days, I think it was just today actually, they had a vote in their parliament there.
The thing they were voting on is whether they should investigate the gang rapes.
And there were like 100 yeses and like 300 noes.
So, like, oh, looks like we're not investigating.
Sorry, too bad.
So that's pretty fucked up.
And I got that from Ryan Motta here, so that's pretty, you know, that's pretty fucked.
How about these fires?
Fires all over Los Angeles area.
Eaton Fire, Burt Fire, Tamarack Fire, Hearst Fire, Palisades Fire, which is by far the worst, and, you know, it's just nuts, alright?
These fires are nuts.
Look at these celebrities who have houses in the Palisade area.
J-Lo, Jennifer Garner, Rihanna, Adam Levine, Adam Sandler, Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton.
So, like, this is some of them.
So, I don't know if any of their houses got destroyed or not.
I sure hope so.
I sure hope they were all burned down.
But, you know, part of this, well, not even part of this, I fully believe these fires were intentionally created.
I mean, why wouldn't they be?
Let's see.
Yeah, so, like, the mayor there, Karen Bass, so she slashed $17.6 million from the fire department's budget in that area.
Los Angeles area.
Like, yeah, we don't need $20 million to help our fire department.
We don't need that.
We don't need that.
And she's also making about $600,000 a year to not fight fires, I guess.
So, I don't know.
There's going to be a lot going on with that.
Apparently, the Los Angeles, I think Karen Bass probably had a part in this, but they refused to fill the water reserves or water reservoirs.
So there was no supply of water to the fucking fire hydrants.
So they can't even put it out of the fucking houses.
It's just burning.
Constantly. Boom, boom, boom.
House after house after house after house.
Like 0% contained.
It's insane.
It is insane.
Anyway, enough on that.
Let's just move on here because I want to get to the story here.
I don't want to bore you guys.
I don't want to bore you with news.
This is pretty interesting.
I found this really interesting.
Two federal inmates, Shannon Agofsky and Len Davis, who are on death row currently, are refusing to let Joe Biden commute their sentences, their death sentences.
They're like, no, we want to die.
We want to be here.
We don't want out.
We want to fucking stay here.
We want to die.
That's pretty nuts.
That's pretty nuts.
So, I mean, maybe they just, they know they're just really bad people.
If they didn't die, then they just pose a risk, I guess, to other inmates.
I don't think they're getting out anytime soon.
I think they're life sentences.
I mean, if they're already getting a death sentence, even if it was commuted, that they're in there for life anyway.
So I think they're like, I'd rather die than be in here for the rest of my life.
And since they're already on death row, waiting to die, they're just like, leave me here, please, Joe Biden.
Fuck you, you're a piece of shit.
Let me die.
So I don't know.
That's pretty interesting.
Other than that, news is just crazy.
A lot of crazy shit going on.
And Twitter is just...
It's too much.
It's too much.
I'm trying to take a step back.
I have a hard time doing that.
You know?
Oh, man.
Yeah. I get on there, and I just doom-scroll, and my girlfriend gets angry at me because I get all depressed.
She's like, well, stop reading the news.
I knew you wouldn't be so depressed.
And I just look at her, and I shake my head, and I say, you don't even know.
You have no idea.
And next thing I know, waking up on the floor.
Head hurts.
Got two black eyes.
What do you know?
Just kidding.
I love you, girl.
Love you.
Anyway, so let's get into this, dude.
So 10 people who died from taking selfies in recent times.
I mean, people have been taking selfies forever, you know, since way back in the day, just carving in rock about what they think they look like.
I don't know, maybe they're looking in a reflection of obsidian or something, and they're like, oh, cool.
They just kind of etch what they think they look like in some rock, I don't know, some sandstone, limestone, maybe.
So, I don't know, selfies have been around for a long time.
In the vortex of the digital age, few trends have captured the hearts, and sometimes lives, of people quite like the selfie.
These self-portrait photographs, typically taken with the ease of a smartphone or a handy selfie stick, embody a modern ritual of self-expression and connection, showcasing events, accomplishments, and fleeting emotions.
From the bright lights of a concert to the serene backdrop of a sunset, our wonderful selfies have become the visual language of our time.
One that lets us say, Look, it's me!
So... The, uh...
Yeah, I'm having a late start here.
I drank like a pot of coffee and it's just not helping.
I woke up this morning, my eyes would not...
Or I guess I should say, I woke up this afternoon and my eyes...
Are so close, I'm having a hard time opening them.
Oh, man.
Anyway, the origins of the selfie might be more profound than one would think.
Long before smartphones ushered in the era of instant gratification, the art of capturing oneself existed in cruder forms, like I said earlier.
But really, it all started in 1839 when Robert Cornelius took what is regarded as the first selfie.
Now, this audacious act utilized the de-girl type technique in his family's lamp and chandelier shop in Philadelphia.
With long exposure times demanding stillness, Cornelius had to hold his pose for a full 15 minutes.
The effort paid off, though, as history would remember him as a pioneer in self-portraiture and the everyman's stud.
Wink, wink.
Oh, Cornelius.
Look at that guy.
He can hold a pose for 15 minutes.
Damn. A few decades down the line, in 1909, Joseph Byron climbed to the rooftop of his company's studio in New York to snap his own one-of-a-kind self-portrait, this time with a box camera that is thought to have been a good old Kodak.
Now, man, a point on Kodak.
I just was going through some family pictures.
over the weekend and found an old Kodak Eastman advertisement and it was really creepy because I forget exactly what it said like in all these different parts but then the very end one it said and get a better view and the picture for it was literally like three or four like three or four year olds in really skimpy bikinis or something and they're just bent over Like,
showing their asses.
And it was really weird.
I showed it to my girlfriend.
She's like, what the fuck?
Like, Kodak Eastman.
Yeah. She'd look into them.
Anyway, fast forward to 1914, and we find ourselves captivated by a young grand duchess, Anastasia Nicola Vane.
Using her Kodak Brownie camera and a mirror, Anastasia captured her image and sent it to a friend, writing, I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror.
It was very hard as my hands were trembling.
In her fragile exploration of identity, this royal teen offered us a glimpse of the deep-seated human desire to seek validation through our own reflections.
Boy, did she.
But the selfie game reached new heights when Byron returned to that same rooftop in the 1920s, capturing the first group selfie with his executive buddies.
This simple act of posing has transformed into a multifaceted phenomenon, boosted by social media platforms that strive on instant interactions and all that validation that we want.
Give me validation.
I want validation.
Among the countless figures in the selfie narrative is Washington, D.C.'s own Anthony Weiner, a former congressman whose alleged self-portraits attracted Both Wiener controversy along with Wiener notoriety.
Even Geraldo Rivera wanted in on the action, and at 70 years old, he flaunted his abs before the world, admiring himself in a bathroom mirror selfie.
A testament to the reach and allure of confidence, no matter one's age or disposition.
That dude, yeah.
If you want a good laugh, go look at that picture.
Anyway, as selfie culture flourished, it began to beg the question of where admiration ends and obsession begins.
Medical professionals have noted the darker side of this practice, leading to concerns about mental health.
Research published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care revealed a stark reality.
Between October 2011 and November 2017, Approximately 259 people lost their lives while attempting to take selfies.
Yeah, that's right.
The quest for a perfect shot can quickly spiral into recklessness with people posing on cliff edges or amidst very dangerous wildlife like all those squirrels.
All in the name of social media validation.
Right? Look at me.
I'm important.
Which, yeah, you all are.
You're all important.
We all are important.
Mostly to ourselves.
One poignant example is the tragic story of, at the time, 19-year-old Danny Bowman, an aspiring young man who became engulfed by the need to capture the perfect selfie.
Danny slipped into an obsession that consumed him entirely.
Spending hours in front of his camera taking hundreds upon hundreds of photographs of himself every day.
The dude lost weight.
He dropped out of school and, for no less than six months, isolated himself from friends and family.
Just closed everything off, man.
Just trying to get a perfect selfie.
The quest for that flawless image became so overwhelming that when he realized he could never achieve it...
The weight of despair nearly claimed his life.
Quote, I was constantly in search of taking the perfect selfie, and when I realized I couldn't, I wanted to die.
End quote.
That's what he confided to the mirror.
And not to a mirror.
To the mirror.
The publication.
Anyway. His journey brought to light a deeper issue of body dysmorphic disorder.
An anxiety disorder marked by an obsession with perceived flaws in one's own appearance.
In his darkest moments, he sought escape in the form of an overdose, a path only altered by the swift action of his mother, who found him in time and called 911.
The raw and tragic irony of Dany's experience serves as a cautionary tale echoing the sentiment that the quest for acceptance can escalate dangerously.
His message to those swept up in the social media tide resonates deeply.
He said, quote, A little extreme there.
I think he lives in a different world than most people.
Anyway. In a world where selfies are as common as morning wood, or morning coffee, or pure morning, the line between joy and obsession has blurred.
While there's undoubtedly an exhilarating thrill in capturing moments of happiness, the drive to present an idealized version of oneself often leads to harmful repercussions, something which is echoed in the world of modeling.
Let me point out, let's get into, like, where.
Selfies take place.
What countries are selfies the most dangerous?
Because they're not isolated.
Let's see.
Alright. Yeah.
Oh my god, computer.
What is happening here?
My computer is just being a little douchebag right now.
Okay. Alright, so with that said, we can now point out that selfie deaths are, in fact, not isolated incidents bound by any particular geographical location.
The website, theswiftest.com, has compiled a database of 314 selfie-related incidents between March of 2014 and June of 2024.
The incidents account for 425 selfie deaths and 82 injuries spanning 49 countries.
That is crazy.
The study found that the most dangerous country, or the country with the most selfie-related injuries and deaths, is...
Take a guess, take a guess!
First, out of the 49 countries that were compiled, what is arguably the least dangerous is Montenegro, a very picturesque Balkan country with a long Adriatic coastline and rugged mountainous interior.
Much like what is between Oprah's thighs.
And according to theswiftest.com, there has only been one injury related to taking selfies.
No deaths whatsoever.
So, if your life revolves around Instagram or simply taking photos of yourself, you have a good chance of surviving the process there in Montenegro.
And now, the top five most dangerous countries for taking selfies are the following.
Get me the drumroll, please!
At number 5, Brazil.
8 deaths, 4 injuries.
At number 4, Pakistan.
16 deaths, 0 injuries.
They don't mess around.
At number 3, Russia.
18 deaths, 1 injury.
At number 2, the United States.
29 deaths, 5 injuries.
And at number one, take a wild guess on this one, it's India!
190 deaths, 55 injuries.
Can you believe it?
Can you believe it?
The amount of people getting hit by trains taking selfies?
Just the amount of those videos coming out of India?
It all makes sense.
It all makes sense now.
It's crazy.
Um, in terms of the manners of death and injuries, alright, take a guess as to the most likely cause.
Alright? Did you take a guess yet?
Take a guess.
Oh, wait.
Two more seconds.
One. Two.
Alright. The most likely cause of death while taking selfies is drowning.
Which comes in at 146 deaths and 58 injuries.
Astounding. The second most likely cause is due to falls, with 130 deaths and 124 injuries.
The third is...
Oh, train.
Yeah, getting hit by trains.
60 deaths and 45 injuries.
The fourth is listed as Other, which could be a multitude of things that are not specified.
But... Were 21 deaths by Other and 18 injuries?
No. The fifth is by Firearms, with 13 deaths and 13 injuries.
Coming in at the seventh most likely cause is by Elephants, with 11 deaths.
11 injuries.
Look at that.
And tying in at 8th and 9th are car accidents and electrocution with 7 deaths and 6 injuries.
Hmm. That's some crazy shit.
And, man, I've got Cottonmouth.
Oh boy, hold on a second, please.
Oh man.
I've got this Cottonmouth.
I've got some Kiwi Strawberry Propel.
No sign of Volumen.
People, stay away from cyanobalamin.
It's like every energy drink and all that crap.
Just stay away from that shit.
Get the methabalamin.
It's a little bit better.
Oh my god.
I'm sorry, guys.
I'm sorry.
Alright. And then we have the global study from 2018 that was conducted by NIH, National Institute of Health.
It's slightly different, and without getting too far into more statistics, the following is their statement of the results.
Quote, The mean age was 22.94 years.
About 72.5% of the total deaths occurred in males and 27.5% in females.
The highest number of incidents and selfie deaths has been reported in India, followed by Russia, United States, and Pakistan.
Drowning, transport, and fall form the topmost fall form.
Drowning. Transport and fall form the top most reasons for deaths caused by selfies.
We also classified reasons for due...
reasons for...
We also classified reasons for deaths due to selfie as risky behavior or non-risky behavior.
Risky behavior caused more deaths and incidents due to selfies than non-risky behavior.
The number of deaths in females is less due to risky behavior than non-risky behavior, while it is approximately three times in males.
I don't know why they have that weird voice.
Those guys are really weird over at National Institute of Health.
You guys know that.
They're Luciferians over there.
Alright, so how do you avoid falling victim to a deadly outcome during selfie mode?
I mean, you just don't be an idiot, right?
You don't engage in risky behavior.
You don't ignore all the posted warning signs telling people not to get too close to a cliff or not to get too close to a swift current of a river or not to get too close to wild animals such as bears and elephants or try to feed them like the total jackass so many tourists are quick to prove themselves to be.
All for that memorable selfie that turns out to be nothing more than a heartbreaking reminder to the family and friends of your last moments alive.
Don't be that guy.
Or gal.
Be smart out there, people.
Come on.
Come on now.
And stay away from the squirrels.
That's the number one thing, dude.
They will lure you in for, you know, acting really cute and stuff, and then, boom, they attack.
You're done.
Faceless. No more face for you.
And now, with all of that out of the way, let's take a look at 10 stories about people who lost their lives as they were in the middle of taking that much-needed selfie.
At number 10. It's hard to believe that a simple act of taking a selfie could lead to such a tragic ending, but here we are.
A 35-year-old German tourist, Julia Helge, lost her life at World's End in Sri Lanka, While trying to capture the perfect shot, the beautiful yet dangerous precipice which looks out over breathtaking mountain scenery became a site of heartbreak one fateful Sunday.
Julia was enjoying a day out with her friend, Naketh Rubia, on November 11th when the incident occurred.
They ventured to the edge of the World's End cliff, known for its sheer drop of about 4,000 feet.
Or about 1,200 meters.
As Julia posed for a picture, a sudden crumbling of the ground beneath her feet sent her tumbling down the steep mountainside.
In a split second, the joyous moment turned from excitement to tragedy right before her friend's eyes.
Immediately after the fall, a guide informed park authorities which triggered a fast response involving the Sri Lankan army.
Brigadier... I'm going to butcher this.
Brigadier Ajanta Wirasuri mobilized a team of soldiers who were experienced at rescuing hapless tourists from the perilous area.
This was especially poignant because just a few years ago, in 2015, another tourist had fallen from this very spot, but survived thanks to a few sturdy branches of a tree about 50 feet or 15 meters below.
The search team headed out to World's End, but found themselves wrestling with thick mist and treacherous terrain.
By the time they reached the area, the weather took a turn for the worse, making their rescue efforts even more difficult.
Major Shandana Bowala, who led the recovery effort, described facing heavy fog so dense that they could barely see each other at arm's length.
After hours of searching, They finally located Julia's body around noon the next day.
The team faced a grueling situation.
There was just no easy way to lift her body up the cliffside.
Instead, they had to devise a cleverer plan, tying her body to a log to carry her along a safer route.
Cleverer. The whole ordeal was intense.
As they worked to retrieve her, the weather caught them off guard.
More mist rolled in, and as night fell, they realized it was too dangerous to continue their trek.
Search crew had to spend the night with Julia's body, armed with only a few bottles of water and saline solution.
The following day, a renewed search party set out, and after a long, painstaking effort, they managed to escort Julia's body, This event has raised alarms about safety at world's end.
And rightfully so.
Calls for a protective fence have reached a crescendo given the crazy history of falls at this site.
As a response, Horton Plains National Park officials Decided against putting up a protective fence and opted instead to erect warning signs in various languages, of course, around the area that posed the most threat.
But, nah, they don't need a fence.
Come on.
Come on now.
It's crazy talk.
Alright, number nine.
On a fateful Friday morning, Sandra Manuela de Costa Macedo, A 44-year-old mother of two who had recently relocated from Portugal to Panama stepped out onto a balcony of the Lexor Tower only to meet an unfortunate and untimely end.
Residents of El Cangrejo, a vibrant neighborhood in Panama City, were rattled by the sound of commotion as paramedics rushed to the scene soon after 10 a.m.
It was an ordinary day turned into devastation.
Sandra was captured on video, cheerfully taking selfies, balancing a selfie stick in her hopes for a beautiful snapshot of her new life in this tropical paradise.
But moments before the tragedy, something began to shift.
Witnesses reported that nearby construction workers instinctively shouted warnings to her, fearing that her adventurous spirit would lead to a misstep.
See, all those construction workers are just watching her.
Not working, they're just watching this woman.
But they were egging her, not egging her, they were telling her to get back, get back, you know?
And then one of the more vocal ones was like, Nah, be careful up there now.
You don't want to go down that road.
You'll see.
Witnesses reported that nearby construction workers instinctively shouted warning signs to her, fearing that her adventurous spirit would lead to a misstep.
That's rather interesting, because these construction workers are just watching her, taking selfies.
Not doing their jabs?
Anyways, they were calling out, they were concerned for her, and, well, the sound of the cities kind of drowned their warnings out, right?
Way too loud for her to hear that.
She's way up there.
But the allure of capturing a breathtaking view and perhaps the fleeting thrill of the moment proved too enticing for Sandra.
As she adjusted her position, she leaned against the railing that separated her from a certain fatal drop.
Then it happened.
Just as she decided to perch on the railing for one last photo, we can only assume it was her last photo.
Well, it was her last photo.
Whatever. What was presumed to be a strong gust of wind swept through, knocking her off her precarious balance.
In a horrifying moment, Sandra fell backwards over the railing, her hands desperately trying to hold on to the railing bars.
And while frantic shouts of onlookers rang out, she plummeted to her death.
The image of her still grasping the selfie stick as she descended is one that will linger in the minds of those who witnessed the calamity.
Eric Alzate, a neighbor living in the same building, shared his heartache, confirming what everyone feared.
It was a tragic accident that could have been avoided.
He recounted how Sandra had been smiling just moments before, enjoying the thrill of capturing both a view and a memory.
It's a stark contrast to the grief that enveloped the scene shortly after.
People nearby had to grapple with the trauma and despair left in the wake of her loss.
Sad. Goddamn construction workers, get back to work!
Watching some women.
Alright. Coming in at number 8. A heart-wrenching incident unfolded on a Sunday morning in Tumakuru, Karnataka, where three students from Tsidaganga Boys PU College lost their lives while trying to seize a moment amid breathtaking natural beauty.
On that fateful Monday morning, Pornachandra, who's 18, Mohammed Merthusa, who's 17, and Shashank KS, who's 17, began what everyone hoped would be a memorable day at the Dabasbet Lake.
And what were they doing?
They were enjoying the final day of their National Service Scheme Camp, or NSS.
The air was filled with excitement as the boys, each hailing from different villages within the Tamakuru district, immersed themselves in the camaraderie of camp life.
With the sun shining brightly and the serene water glistening, taking a selfie at the lake seemed like the perfect way to commemorate their week-long experience.
Who's to blame them?
As the NSS camp participants engaged in a cleanliness campaign around the picturesque Nihagalu village lake, the three boys wandered to the opposite side, drawn by the stunning landscape.
Captivated by the panoramic view, they decided to pose for a selfie that would encapsulate their youthful exuberance.
However, the slippery stones at the edge of the lake became an unseen danger as Pornachandra, While attempting to find the perfect camera angle, lost his footing.
In an instant, he slipped into the murky depths, sinking quickly into the silt below.
The scene quickly turned chaotic as Merthusa and Shawshank instinctively jumped in to save their friend.
Tragedy struck once more as the churning waters claimed them as well, dragging them into the same fate that befell Bornachandra.
Onlookers were paralyzed with shock, but Shana Keshava, the NSS camp leader, could not stand by.
He plunged into the water, desperate to rescue the boys.
Unfortunately, his lack of swimming skills put him in grave danger as well.
As the unforgiving silt ensnared him.
Local residents rushed to the scene and frantically worked to pull Shana Keshava from the water before alerting fire and emergency services.
When the staff of the Nella Mangala fire station arrived, they scoured the lake for two and a half hours, battling both time and terrain before retrieving the students' lifeless bodies.
It was a heartbreaking end to a promising day filled with joy and friendship.
Terrible. The somewhat recent tragedy in Chinippus,
Chihuahua, Mexico, where two young women, Nitzia Mendoza Coral, On March 25,
2024, following a local horse race, Nizia and Clarissa decided to capture their joyful experience by posing for videos and photographs atop a pickup truck.
Despite warnings from those around them, the allure of the moment overshadowed their awareness of the potential dangers.
As they sought the best angles against the vibrant backdrop of their surroundings, a plane was barreling directly toward them.
Unbeknownst to them, a plane was approaching for landing.
The noise of the environment must have drowned out the sounds of its descent, And in an instant, the excitement that filled the air transformed into a scene of horror.
Tragedy struck as the aircraft, seemingly so far removed from the joyous gathering, collided with both Nitzia and Clarissa.
The impact was obviously devastating, resulting in an immediate loss of life, Coming in at number 6. In September of 2018,
a teenager in Italy had fallen to his death from the top of a shopping center.
After apparently risking his life to take a selfie.
Who doesn't want to do that?
Who hasn't been on top of a shopping center to risk the lives for a selfie?
I guess I have not, so many people haven't, I guess.
Andrea Baroni tragically died after he fell from the third floor of the Sarka shopping center in Milan and crashed into an air duct at around 10pm on Saturday, the Corriere della Sera reported.
The newspaper said that the 15-year-old and a group of his friends had secretly ascended the building, climbing over gates and fences just to get to the top.
However, as they were trying to safely descend the building, he fell into the ventilation duct, which was a distance of around 40 meters.
A lot of feet.
Emergency services were unable to save his life.
Roni was known for taking selfies in dangerous locations and posting them on Instagram.
His account on the social media platform has images of him in places such as on roofs or on the edge of buildings.
He had posted on the social media site the quote, Death does not scare us.
We look at it in the face.
His family has questioned why there was not adequate security on the site to prevent such accidents.
Yeah, I'd want to know why as well.
Apparently, anyone can climb to the rooftops in Italy.
So, let's see.
Next one.
Where we at here?
Five. Mauled by a bear.
In September 2024, the tragic death of taxi driver...
Prabhu Bhattara in Odisha, India, captured headlines and raised some eyebrows.
Bhattara was killed by a wounded bear after he made the ill-fated decision to approach the animal for a selfie.
What better thing to do than see an injured bear and get close to it?
For a selfie?
His story, while shocking, Patara was escorting a group home from a wedding when he stopped to relieve himself.
It was a crucial mistake.
As he returned to his jeep, he spotted a bear by the roadside.
How convenient.
And instead of exercising caution, Patara decided to approach the injured bear.
Believing it presented a rare opportunity for a memorable photograph.
Oh yeah, it did.
Fellow travelers cautioned him to back off, urging him to keep a safe distance.
However, his desire for the perfect selfie clouded his judgment, as we all know all too well, and he walked within reach of the deadly animal.
Unsurprisingly, the bear reacted instinctively.
And unleashed a vicious attack on him and ultimately mauled him to death in front of shocked onlookers, who in turn took their own selfies of the moment.
According to Forest Ranger Dhanajaya Mahapatra, Batara died instantly.
I highly doubt that.
Did not die instantly.
It takes a minute.
It takes a minute or two.
They say he died instantly, leaving his fellow passengers helpless.
Some intervened by throwing rocks and sticks at the bear, while a stray dog inexplicably tried to rescue Batara itself.
Unfortunately, their efforts were all in vain, and the bear's instinctual behavior took a fatal toll.
I thought he died instantly.
Whatever. Sloth bears, which are often found in Odisha, are known for their unpredictability, especially when they feel threatened.
Those bears look weird, too.
While they are protected by Indian wildlife laws, their habitat has diminished due to human encroachment.
This has increased the likelihood of confrontations.
As bears search for food in farmlands and urban areas.
This particular incident marks the third selfie-related animal death in Odisha in just a year.
The previous incidents involved fatal encounters with wild elephants, further exemplifying the risks associated with attempting to crapture...
Crapture? Further exemplifying the risks associated with attempting to capture close-up images with wildlife or social media.
Following Batara's death, local residents protested, seeking larger compensation for his family.
While approximately $450 was given for funeral expenses, many felt this was an insufficient amount for the life lost and the family's grief.
The community's response also highlights the emotional impact of such such events where the loss reverberates beyond individual families to entire communities.
And that's true, man.
I mean, if you get attacked by a bear in the United States, you don't get any money for that shit.
You don't get a fucking dime.
Are you gonna sue for service?
Yeah. Fuck, dude.
And at number four.
An incident that occurred in May 2024 at a shopping mall in Ganganagar district, Roshathsan,
India, serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences of taking selfies.
A 10-month-old girl lost her life after she accidentally fell from her mother's arms, While the family was caught up in a moment trying to take a selfie.
The incident happened while the family was visiting the mall after taking their baby to a medical clinic.
They decided to indulge in some shopping but were distracted by the allure of capturing their experiences on camera.
As they were on an escalator, The father requested a selfie.
This seemingly harmless request was enough to cause the mother to lose not just her balance, but her grip on her child.
I think because, like, they wear all these little scarf things and they had so many little scarves and stuff that she just slipped right out of her grips.
Loose clothing, man.
What followed was devastating.
A moment that could have been filled with joy instead ended tragically.
As the baby slipped from her mother's arms, hitting the railing before plummeting three floors to her untimely death.
So is that.
Eyewitness accounts describe how the couple took selfies near an escalator just moments before the tragedy unfolded.
The family's joyful shopping outing turned into chaos as the mother's frantic attempts to grasp at her baby proved futile.
CCTV footage shows the heartbreaking moments before and after the fall.
And the couple, shock and despair, pierced through the crowd.
He had to help arrived far too late.
There's nothing he could do, man.
Baby fell three stories.
I didn't see the aftermath.
I just saw when she slipped out of the arms.
Man, that shit was like, oh no, dude.
Statements from the authorities reflect a somber reality.
This is a clear-cut case of an accident.
A police spokesman noted, emphasizing the unpredictability and fragility of life.
The parents, overwhelmed with grief, decided against legal action, understanding that this was a tragic accident rather than a crime.
But the gut-wrenching question remains, how could a simple selfie lead?
The story of this young girl should serve as a wake-up call.
It reinforces the importance of prioritizing the safety of ourselves and her loved ones over the pursuit of likes and shares.
At number three, this incident involved a four-year-old boy named Don Vonth, who lost his life in a heart-wrenching accident while his father attempted to take a selfie amidst rising floodwaters.
Goddamn. Some of you might think I specifically chose all these just because of the names,
because these are impossible for me to pronounce correctly.
I'm sorry.
And I did not choose this for that reason.
Anyway. They drove there with the intention of observing the swollen river, which had been affected significantly by recent rains.
While perched atop pillar 24 of the bridge, Babu decided to capture a selfie with his son.
And I love that name, man.
Babu. Babu.
If I ever have a son, I'm naming him Babu.
So why not?
While perched atop Pillar 24 of the bridge, Babu decided to capture a selfie with his son, wanting to document the experience against the dramatic backdrop of the flooded river.
Unfortunately, what was intended to be a cherished moment turned into a nightmare.
As the father held Danvanth with one hand while positioning his smartphone with the other, He simply lost his grip, and in an instant, the young boy slipped from his father's grasp, falling into the powerful currents of the river below.
Who would have thought?
The situation became dire rapidly.
Babu's frantic calls for help echoed in the air as he watched his son be swept away by the unforgiving waters.
The situation became dire rapidly.
Babu's frantic calls for help echoed in the air as he watched his son be swept away by the unforgiving currents.
Emergency services were notified immediately and a search operation was launched with urgency.
Rescue teams, comprising police and fire officials, scoured the area for hours, attempting to locate the missing child.
Despite their best efforts, including covering a search area of approximately 15 kilometers, Rescue officials and the family were faced with no other option but to give up their search.
Who's hopeless?
And on to number two...
You might have heard the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Well, if that's true...
Then the story of a Texas teen who died trying to take selfies with a loaded gun has a tragic punchline that no one wants to read.
On a Tuesday afternoon in Conroe, Texas, a 16-year-old girl died from a gunshot wound to the head while snapping selfies.
According to the police, she was not alone in her selfie escapade.
Alongside her was her 19-year-old male friend.
When police arrived at the scene after the 911 call was placed, they found the girl dead in an apartment at the Anatoly Pines complex.
Sergeant Scott McCann of the Conroe Police emphasized how some of these kids made critical errors in judgment, stating that the male involved quickly bolted from the scene of the incident after the gun went off.
The teens also didn't call for help until at least an hour had already passed.
The police would arrive to investigate the scene and would make some arrests.
Four males were questioned, and two of them, 19-year-olds Matthew Tyshawn Davis and Joseph Wilson, faced serious charges.
Davis was hit with murder charges and charges related to controlled substances, while Wilson faced charges of tampering with evidence and possession.
So, yeah, that's really sad.
Um, don't take selfies with guns.
That's, like, the most retarded thing I've ever seen.
I've seen it so often in these stupid videos, man.
People putting loaded guns to their fucking heads and pulling a trigger to get a picture.
Like, how do you, do you not know that there's a bullet in the chamber?
Ugh, it's so just disheartening, man.
Come on.
Come on now.
Alright. Moving on.
Moving on.
Last one here.
Number one.
Selfie with a train.
Oh, yes.
Now, I've seen plenty of videos of this as well.
It was June 2018.
It was 4 a.m., and a group of friends were enjoying a drink or two near Sampson train station in Bangkok.
The ambience was casual.
Drunken laughter filled the early morning air.
And Wilelak Sakuma, a vivacious 28-year-old, decided to immortalize the moment with a selfie.
Her choice of backdrop, train tracks, and none other than an oncoming speeding train.
As Wilelak attempted to capture the perfect picture with an outgoing train, she neglected to notice the massive and immensely noisy oncoming train rapidly approaching.
The result was catastrophic.
Unfortunately, she was hit and one of her legs was severed and she later succumbed to her injuries in a nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, her friend, who was also caught up in the glory of a selfie moment, ended up in a much better shape as she was left unconscious with just a head injury and a broken arm.
This incident isn't just a singular tragedy.
It highlights a growing phenomenon.
From just 15 reported deaths in 2014 to more than 70 by 2016, it seems we live in an era where the lid on common sense has officially come off.
With numbers like these, one might think we'd learn to put our phones down in precarious situations.
Yet here we are, still searching for the best angle with reckless abandon.
Perhaps the most bewildering aspect of the story is the nonchalant nature of Wailelek and her friends.
According to police investigator Wissensak Subin, they often gather near the railroad station, a habit they seemingly embrace without caution.
It's fascinating to consider how taking selfies has become a normalized activity, even amidst obvious dangers like, say, a barreling train.
How far removed have we become from the concept of situational awareness?
For some, the answer is excruciatingly far.
Some cities, like Mumbai, have been implementing bans on selfies in specific areas due to alarming rates of selfie-related accidents, and for good fucking reason.
A more recent incident occurred on June 6, 2024.
On that day, in Hidalgo, Mexico, a young woman in her 20s lost her life while attempting to take a selfie with a vintage steam locomotive known as the Empress.
This heartbreaking event was filmed and quickly uploaded to the internet where it resonated across social media platforms, igniting discussions about safety and the idiocy of the people that will go to dangerous lengths to get that perfect selfie.
On the day in question, the sun shone brightly on what seemed to be a festive day.
A group of people gathered.
Their excitement quivered the streets as they anticipated the arrival of the Empress, an iconic steam engine built in 1930.
This locomotive, with its gleaming black exterior such as that of Liz Owen, rumbling presence, was part of the final Spike steam tour.
A celebration of historical railways and the merger that formed Canadian Pacific Kansas City.
It was a family event.
Kids laughed, adults looked at the watches, and everyone eagerly positioned themselves for photographs, oblivious to the shadows looming just above the tracks.
Among this hopeful crowd was a woman dressed in a vibrant orange top.
She stood near the railway.
Capturing the atmosphere, radiating around her as she prepared to snap a selfie.
She couldn't be more excited.
She also had a small child beside her.
The scene seemed innocent, a joyful memory in the making.
However, as the train approached in a symphony of steam and nostalgia, the tension between celebration and danger suddenly intensified.
The chilling footage That has circulated social media reveals the moment of tragedy.
The woman's focus was solely on her camera, which was facing her, meaning her back is to the train.
She was apparently unaware of the vintage train rapidly closing in.
While the child beside her instinctively ducked down, she chose to remain upright, fixated on the perfect angle for her picture.
In that fatal moment, she dropped to one knee, a decision made in seconds but forged from the thrill of capturing a memorable moment.
The heavy locomotive, corner of its engine glistening ominously, struck her on the back of the head, sending her forward and face first into the large shards of rock that was inescapable.
Desperate to save her, In a heartbeat,
excitement morphed into devastation as many witnesses found themselves grappling with the horror of what had just transpired and what they had just recorded.
Following the incident, CPKC released a heartfelt statement expressing sorrow for the tragedy while emphasizing the critical importance of safety near railroad tracks.
Their message was clear.
And now, in conclusion, Staying alive in the age of social media is about more than just breathing.
It's about navigating the treacherous terrain of online trends.
The allure of the perfect Instagram snap has transformed dramatically, swapping pretty brunches and sunset views for heart-pounding vacation stunts rather than leisurely moments.
Young thrill-seekers now chase dangerous escapades in exotic locales.
Risking their safety and their lives for the sake of online engagement.
And fuck it works.
God damn it works.
Instagram certainly ramped up this trend, but it isn't the only app.
Apps like Snapchat, Reddit, and TikTok are all part of this exhilarating bandwagon featuring reckless dares that keep hair-knuckled fingers glued to screens.
Yet amidst the enticing glamour of likes and shares, the subtle threats can often go unnoticed.
It's crucial to heed posted guidelines, right?
Selfie-free zones.
They're everywhere.
They exist for a reason.
And by ignoring them can lead to grave consequences.
Some say for the better.
Some say it's part of the survival of the fittest and likely the smartest.
I mean...
How else could the wildly popular Darwin Award continue to be unceremoniously doled out to winners and runner-ups?
All jokes aside.
But a word of advice.
Before capturing that next exhilarating moment of drunkenness or plain old stupidity, just take a pause.
Ask yourself, is that massive elephant nearby really as friendly as cartoons make it out to be?
Is the weather as placid as your boyfriend's erection?
Actually, having a friend or two who might be a bit smarter than you is probably a wise strategy.
Two sets of eyes are always better than one, obviously, especially when the landscape demands vigilance.
Solo selfies may seem daring, but in truth, they can mask a perilous situation that is beckoning for your soul.
So, gotta be careful on those ones.
Don't go solo selfie-ing.
Another word of advice, if you're climbing around cliff-sized and dangerous terrain, remember to maintain three points of contact.
And for the men out there, it's advisable to bring along Viagra as some backup, just to help along with that three points of contact, because now you have four, and you never know when you might have to become a tripod in the spur of the moment.
For all you risk-takers, an emergency plan is vital.
Scenic spots can be beautiful yet remote.
So, knowing how to respond if misfortune strikes can mean the difference between life and death.
It's not a joke.
It's not a fucking joke.
So, let's remember that capturing a moment is not worth sacrificing our lives.
No matter how badass that picture would turn out.
You know what I mean?
Risky selfies certainly garner more lecture.
But they can also lead to regrettable consequences that nobody wants to be involved in.
Especially your family and friends, dude.
For real.
Now, with that said, thank you all for tuning in.
Stay aware, stay smart, stay alive.
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