What is TikTok's 'Boat Jumping Challenge' that killed 4 people
A TikTok trend that first went viral in 2020, has so far claimed the lives of four people in the United States of America. The Boat Jumping Challenge is a dangerous stunt where one jumps off a speeding boat. According to Jim Dennis from Alabama's Childersburg Rescue Squad, people jump off the side of the boat, feet first, and just lean into the water.
Why is the stunt dangerous?
Searching for "#boatjumping" on TikTok reveals numerous daredevils documenting their attempts at the risky Boat Jumping Challenge. The combination of the boat's high speed and the motionless water creates a hazardous landing surface akin to concrete. If people fail to safeguard their neck and head while leaping from a moving boat they risk permanent paralysis or, more likely, instant death.
This is a very big concern: Dennis
Dennis told The Independent that this trend led to "easily avoidable" deaths and that "It's something that needs to go away and stay away." "This is a very big concern because we have seen this pattern emerge over the last two years and it's sporadic," opined Dennis. The four fatalities were documented performing backflips while leaping off. Reportedly, they broke their necks and drowned.
In February this year, a father died doing this challenge
A similar incident surfaced in February this year when a man, who was onboard a high-speed boat with his three little children and wife, jumped off into the water. The wife, unfortunately, recorded her husband's death. "I think people, if they're being filmed on camera, they're more likely to do something stupid because they want to show it off for social media," shared Dennis.
All the fatalities were males: Dennis
All those who succumbed to their deaths attempting the Boat Jumping Challenge were reportedly males. Dennis initially said that the four people died as a result of neck injuries in the last six months while trying to participate in the challenge.
Dennis later walked back his original claims
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said that Dennis' claims were "incorrect." Dennis later admitted that his earlier remarks were "exaggerated." "We've had four drownings in the last six to eight months (that the Childersburg Rescue Squad worked) and some of those were just drownings,'' Dennis told AL.com. Dennis clarified that attributing the deaths solely to the TikTok trend would be subjective.
Weird TikTok trends that have claimed people's lives earlier
In 2021, a nine-year-old girl Arriani, in Milwaukee, wrapped a metal dog leash around her neck, hooked its buckle to her wardrobe's door hinge, and died due to choking. She was, reportedly, doing the viral "Blackout Challenge." A 13-year-old boy from Ohio died due to overdosing on Benedryl in an attempt to do the "Benadryl Challenge" which requires one to consume 12-14 doses.
