Boat Jumping Challenge On TikTok Has Allegedly Killed 4 People In The Last 6 Months
In the age of social media, many people would do almost anything for likes and shares.
That includes jumping off a boat when it’s still moving, reportedly a popular TikTok challenge.
Unfortunately, four people in the United States (US) have already been killed while attempting this challenge, rescuers have said.
Source: @dayyachtcharters on TikTok
They urged people to stop doing the challenge, saying, “It’s not worth your life”.
4 men died doing TikTok challenge
In the last six months, four deaths took place in Alabama that were “easily avoidable”, reported WBMA-LD, a TV station affiliated with ABC.
Captain Jim Dennis, from the rescue squad of the city of Childersburg, told the station that all of them were men doing a TikTok challenge.
He described it as thus,
It’s where you get in a boat going at a high rate of speed, you jump off the side of the boat, don’t dive, you’re jumping off feet first and you just kinda lean into the water.
While some jump feet first into the water, others may attempt it with their backs facing the water or even do a backflip.
Source: @nataliejillfit on TikTok
4 broke their necks in boat jumping challenge
In all four cases, the fatalities broke their necks when they hit the water, Capt Dennis said.
One of the men was a father whose wife and three children were in the boat.
His wife, who was recording the jump, ended up recording his death.
In the most recent tragedy, the victim was a middle-aged man who jumped off a boat in May.
More may attempt boat jumping challenge as summer approaches
Capt Dennis feared more people would attempt the challenge as summer approached.
This is a pattern that rescuers have seen over the last two years, he said.
Source: @dayyachtcharters on TikTok
He told WVTM-TV, an NBC affiliate in Alabama, that the “needless loss of life” is “frustrating”, especially when rescue crews work hard to save lives.
Rescuers urge people not to do it
Capt Dennis urged people not to take part in this trend, adding,
It’s something that needs to go away and stay away.
He also advised people to prevent their family and friends from boat jumping.
Source: @nataliejillfit on TikTok
If a boat jumper doesn’t immediately resurface, their companions should call for help and try not to leave the location.
An avid boater interviewed by WBMA-LD said jumping out of a boat going at high speed is “almost like hitting concrete”.
No record of TikTok-related fatalities: Alabama law enforcement
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), however, has refuted news reports of deaths related to a TikTok challenge.
In a tweet on Tuesday (11 July), ALEA said they had no records of “boating or marine-related fatalities in Alabama that can be directly linked to TikTok or a trend on TikTok”.
Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Twitter
They noted that one individual was fatally injured after jumping from a moving vessel in 2020. A similar marine-related fatality occurred in 2021. But the two deaths “cannot be linked to TikTok”, they maintained.
Capt Dennis has since backtracked on his earlier comments, telling AL.com that he had no data to support them.
Though he said he had worked on one death involving someone jumping from a boat, he “can’t say” social media is the reason they died as it would be “a matter of opinion”, he added.
‘Angel of death’ TikTok challenge was fatal
In June 2022, an Indonesian teenager attempted the “angel of death” challenge, which involved jumping in front of a moving truck.
The 18-year-old passed away instantly when he didn’t manage to jump away in time.
Indonesian Teen Jumps In Front Of Moving Truck For TikTok Challenge, Passes Away On The Spot
Another teenager aged 14 was hospitalised after being hit by a truck as he attempted the challenge.
Hopefully, people will exercise discretion before joining in on dangerous social media trends.
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Featured image adapted from @dayyachtcharters on TikTok and @nataliejillfit on TikTok.
