Buzz
Selfies, which are self-portrait photos typically captured using a smartphone held in hand or with the assistance of a selfie stick, have become one of the most widespread trends on social media in recent years. These images are often shared to celebrate an event, highlight an accomplishment, or express self-appreciation. Even Buzz Aldrin snapped a selfie in space back in 1966.
Given the immense popularity of selfies and the validation people derive from posting them, it’s no surprise that some go to extreme lengths for the ideal shot. Tragically, selfie-related fatalities have become a concerning global phenomenon. A study in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care revealed that approximately 259 individuals lost their lives while attempting to take selfies between October 2011 and November 2017.
Below are ten unusual and tragic incidents where people have died while attempting to take selfies in recent years:
10. Falling From a Cliff
In November 2018, a 35-year-old German tourist was exploring a 1,200-meter-high (4,000 ft) cliff known as World’s End in Sri Lanka. Believing the stunning view would make for an incredible photo, she pulled out her phone to capture a selfie with her friend. Tragically, she lost her footing and plunged off the steep cliff, leaving onlookers in shock. The Sri Lankan army and volunteers conducted a six-hour search for her body, utilizing air support and extensive climbing efforts.
World’s End, located in Horton Plains National Park, is one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned tourist destinations. While this incident ended in tragedy, it’s not the first time someone has fallen from the cliff while attempting a selfie. In 2015, a Dutch man on his honeymoon with his wife tried to take a selfie and fell off the edge. Fortunately, he survived after a tree broke his fall about 15 meters (50 ft) down the cliff.
9. Plunged 27 Floors
In another tragic incident, a woman fell from her balcony while attempting to take a selfie in October 2018. Sandra Manuela Da Costa Macedo, a 44-year-old mother of two and a teacher from Portugal, had recently relocated to Panama City. The accident occurred at her apartment in the Luxor Tower. Nearby construction workers filmed her and tried to warn her of the danger, but it was too late. Witnesses reported she was still clutching the selfie stick as she fell 27 stories to her death.
A witness residing in the Luxor Tower also observed the incident and recounted that Macedo had perched on the railing for one final selfie before tragically losing her balance and falling. The video captured by construction workers circulated widely on social media, with users expressing sorrow over her death and labeling the incident as one of the most senseless ways to lose a life.
8. Drowned in a Lake
In October 2018, three students in India climbed onto a moss-covered rock near a lake to take a group selfie. One of them slipped and fell into the water, prompting the other two to jump in to save their friend. Tragically, all three became trapped in silt and drowned. The incident occurred during a school trip involving 51 other students and seven teachers. The victims, Poornachandra (18), Mohammed Murtuza (17), and Shashank (17), were PUC students from Siddaganga Boys PU College in Tumakuru and part of the National Service Scheme team visiting the area.
The trio had ventured to the far side of the lake to snap the selfie when the accident happened. Despite another student attempting a rescue, the boys had already drowned by the time help arrived. Locals notified the police and fire services, who later recovered the bodies from the lake and transported them to Nelmangala Government Hospital for postmortem examinations.
7. Struck by a Plane
In October 2018, in Chinapas, Mexico, two teenage girls lost their lives while attempting to take selfies on a runway as a plane was landing. The girls, aged 17 and 18, had come earlier to watch races near the airport. While standing on the tarmac, they failed to notice the approaching aircraft. The plane’s wing struck their heads, resulting in instant fatalities.
The pilot of the aircraft spotted the girls on the tarmac but was unable to avert the tragedy in time. Authorities initiated an investigation into the incident.
6. Plunged from a Mall Roof
In September 2018, a teenager in Italy tragically died after falling from the roof of a mall while attempting to take a selfie. Andrea Barone, 15, was at the Sarca shopping center in Milan when he slipped and fell into an air duct from the third floor. According to the local newspaper Corriere Della Sera, Barone and his friends had sneaked onto the roof by climbing over gates and fences. After capturing the risky selfie, he tried to climb down but fell into the ventilation shaft.
Emergency responders attempted to save Barone, but his injuries were too severe. A student at the Eugenio Montale technical institute and captain of his football team, Barone was known for posting daring selfies on Instagram, many taken from rooftops. Ironically, one of his social media captions read: “Death does not scare us, we look it in the face.”
Barone’s family raised concerns about the lack of proper security measures that could have prevented the accident. Lorenzo Gaiani, the mayor of Cusano Milanino, expressed his deepest sympathies to Barone’s family, stating that both his administration and the entire community were deeply shaken by the senseless tragedy.
5. Attacked by a Bear
In May 2018, a truck driver was fatally mauled after attempting to take a selfie with a bear. Prabhu Bhatara, the victim, had stopped to relieve himself in the Eastern Indian state of Odisha when he noticed an injured bear lying nearby. Seeing it as a photo opportunity, he approached the animal, triggering its defensive instincts. According to forest ranger Dhanurjaya Mohapatra, Bhatara died instantly.
The incident was captured on video by bystanders, showing the bear attacking Bhatara and the horrified reactions of onlookers. A stray dog was also seen trying to confront the bear, but it was too late to save the man. Bhatara’s death marked the third selfie-related fatality in Odisha since December 2017, following two separate incidents where men were trampled by elephants while attempting selfies.
4. Baby Dropped on Escalator
In May 2018, a tragic incident occurred in India when a ten-month-old baby died after falling from an escalator in a shopping mall. The mother, distracted while taking selfies, lost her grip on the child. The family had visited the mall in Ganganagar district, Rajasthan, following a checkup at a local clinic. CCTV footage captured the entire event, showing the couple taking selfies with their baby in a corridor before moving to the escalator. While attempting more selfies, the mother lost her balance, causing the baby to slip from her arms.
Witnesses reported that the husband had asked his wife for a selfie on the escalator just before the accident. The baby struck the railing before falling through a gap. The footage reveals the parents’ shock and despair as they frantically searched for their child.
3. Train Track Tragedy
In Thailand, a woman lost her life while attempting to take a selfie on train tracks with a friend. The friend admitted they had been drinking and decided to “take a photo with the train.” Unaware of an approaching train on the adjacent track, the 24-year-old woman was struck, severing her leg. She later died in the hospital, while her male friend survived with serious injuries.
The incident occurred in February 2018 at Samsen station in Bangkok, where authorities were investigating. Taking selfies on train tracks or with trains is a perilous trend, particularly in India. In January 2018, a man in Hyderabad was hit by a train while filming himself waiting for one. Similarly, in October 2017, three teenagers in Karnataka and two in Delhi were killed by trains while attempting selfies on railway tracks.
2. Selfie Involving a Firearm
In Conroe, Texas, two men were charged after a 16-year-old girl was fatally shot while taking selfies with a gun in July 2018. The incident occurred during a drug-fueled gathering at an apartment, and the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Montgomery County jail records, one suspect, 19-year-old Matthew Tyshaun Davis (left above) from Austin, faces charges of murder and drug-related offenses. The other suspect, 19-year-old Joseph Hayden Wilson (right above) from Willis, was charged with evidence tampering and drug possession.
The party dispersed immediately after the shooting, with Davis fleeing the scene. Witnesses assisted in locating him. A nearby neighbor stated that she and her family temporarily relocated after the incident, as it deeply disturbed them.
1. Toddler Dropped into a River
A father unintentionally dropped his four-year-old son from a bridge into the Cauvery River while attempting to capture a selfie with the flooded river in the background. The tragic event occurred in August 2018 on a bridge in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, India. The boy, Dhanyanth, was accompanied by his father, Babu, while his mother, Sofia, waited at home. They had gone to witness the flooded river, driving to the Cauvery Bridge linking Vangal and Mohanur.
While Dhanyanth sat on Pillar 24 of the bridge, his father held him with his left hand and used his right hand to take the photo. Babu lost his grip, causing the boy to fall into the river. Authorities were alerted, and a search operation was launched immediately. Despite extensive efforts by fire and rescue teams covering 15 kilometers (9 mi), the strong currents made it impossible to locate the boy.
