1 - A Need for Speed: Motorcycles and Selfies do not Mix
A Puerto Rican rapper who went by the stage name Jadiel was visiting his family in New York City. Proud of the wealth that his career had brought him, he wanted to display his success by taking a picture while on a recently purchased motorcycle.
Unfortunately for Jadiel (whose real name was Ramon Gonzalez), the city traffic disagreed with his attempt. The young man lost control of his motorcycle and drifted into the opposing lane. He then collided with another vehicle. The car crushed his bike and this young rapper embraced a similar fate. He died while being treated in a local New York City Hospital.
2 - A Bridge Too Far
Southern Spain is home to a picturesque and famous bridge known as the Puente de Triana. It has attracted many tourists over the years and countless visitors have taken selfies above the calm waters punctuated by scintillating city lights. In 2014, a young Polish nursing student decided to capture a few memories that would last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, this lifetime was cut tragically short. This woman of 23 years mounted a railing of the bridge and posed precariously to take a few snapshots. She lost her balance and fell five metres to a concrete platform below. Although she was revived on the scene, she later passed away in hospital.
3 - One Small Step
A girl by the name of Xenia Ignatyeva thought it was a good idea to take an original selfie atop a railway platform in the city of Saint Petersburg in Russia. While climbing the nearby support struts, she lost her balance and began to fall.
Young Ms. Ignatyeva instinctively reached out to regain her composure only to find that her hand touched a cable powered by 1,500 volts. She fell to the ground and died after several minutes. Children nearby noted that she had survived the fall but they could do little to help. Ironically, this young girl was soon to celebrate her 18th birthday.
4 - A Sacrifice for the "Selfie Olympics"
A recent online competition has emerged that is known as the "Selfie Olympics". As the name may suggest, this competition involves taking the wildest and most risky pictures with the help of a smartphone. It is already apparent that such events have the ability to quickly become dangerous or even deadly.
Oscar Reyes was only 18 years old when he received over 200 "likes" for taking a picture of himself dressed up as the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants. This prompted him to push the envelope yet further and attempt to take a picture climbing over the top of a bathroom stall. He slipped and smashed his head on a porcelain toilet. He was later found dead as the result of massive brain trauma. It can be assumed that a lack of attention proved to be the ultimate reason for such an untimely death.
5 - Guns Don't Kill People...
Selfies taken while holding guns are some of the most dangerous pictures to attempt. Young Oscar Otero Aguilar proved this point in a dramatic and tragic fashion. Already known for his numerous pictures of cars and beautiful women, Mr. Aguilar decided to take it up a notch by snapping a photograph of him waving a handgun in the air.
He had no idea what was soon to follow. Somehow, the weapon discharged and he suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head as a result. He died on the way to the hospital and this story was posted in several online news portals. It is not likely not be the first or last of such incidents.
6 - The Ultimate Selfie
A very pretty Romanian girl contemplated taking the "ultimate" selfie atop the a nearby train that was parked in place. She somehow managed to climb onto the roof and attempted to take a picture while laying down.
She extended her arm to snap a quick photo. Unfortunately, she was unaware that power lines containing no less than 27,000 volts were directly overhead. The proximity of her hand caused a discharge arc that burned 50 per cent of her body. Although nearby individuals attempted to help, their efforts proved futile. This girl perished soon after the paramedics arrived. She was only 18 years old.
7 - Silent Waters Run Deep
A tranquil river would seem like a perfect location for a selife or two. However, even the most benign scenes can prove to be deadly. A 13-year-old girl learned this fact the hard way. Karen Hernandez was standing on the shores of the El Tunal river in the Durango province of Mexico.
It appears that she somehow slipped and fell into the water while taking a selfie. She may have been unable to swim, as she soon drowned. It is ironic that a seemingly safe environment can prove to be so deadly. One has to assume that she was likely not paying attention to her environment while manipulating her camera.
8 - Safety in Numbers?
Many believe that the risks of taking a dangerous selfie are reduced if a number of friends are around. This is apparently not always the case. A young girl was out with friends celebrating a recent birthday.
They decided to take a walk down to the beach and pose for a selfie close to the water. One girl happened to fall into the water and much like the previous story, she drowned. What is even more tragic here is that even a large group of people was unable to prevent this tragic death. Whether caused by a strong current, an undertow or an inability to swim, the consequences are just as sad.
9 - A Train Wreck of a Selfie
It appears that many smartphone users have a fascination of taking selfies while atop a train. However, the majority are unaware that these massive behemoths are driven by thousands of volts of power. The electricity is normally supplied to the train via the use of overhead wires.
Although there are many warning signs, they can sometimes be ignored due to the innocuous appearance of the power supply. One young Spanish boy learned this scientific fact the hard way. After making his way to the top of a car, he accidentally came in contact with the live wires. He was electrocuted and died of his wounds. We have to wonder what lengths people will go to for an "electrifying" picture.
10 - The First and Last Date
One of the more tragic selfie-associated deaths recently occurred in South Africa. A young couple was going on a first date. The two had developed a long-distance relationship and they finally decided to take the next step and meet in person. Cheyenne Holloway was eagerly awaiting her young suitor to arrive from the United Kingdom.
When James Nichols eventually took the trip, the two decided to go on a hike into a nearby mountain range. They visited a location called Northcliff Hill and ascended to the top. So far, the first date seemed to be going fine. While attempting to take a dual selfie, Ms. Holloway stood on a loose rock. Her weight caused it to dislodge and she fell 15 metres to her death. The 21-year-old girl died of her injuries. One can only imagine what James Nichols must have felt.
11 - Here Comes (and Goes) the Bride
A hen's night out is supposed to be one of the most memorable occasions for a woman who is soon to be married. This next example was indeed memorable, but for all of the wrong reasons. Colette Marino was 26 years old when she finally decided to tie the knot with her long-time boyfriend.
Ms. Marino was seated in the passenger seat when her friend who was driving decided to overtake a lorry. They were soon involved with a head-on collision with another vehicle. As a result, Ms. Marino was immediately killed. She left behind her fiancé as well as a 5-year-old son. We are forced to wonder if she would be happily married today had she not decided to snap a selfie at the wrong time.
12 - A Romantic Family Outing
The shores of Portugal are known for their picturesque cliffs and stunningly beautiful panoramic views. A Polish couple decided to take advantage of such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by snapping a few photos with their two children nearby.
The cliffs at Cabo da Roca (literally translated as Cape of Rocks) are notoriously steep and suddenly, the mother and father plummeted to the rocky shores below. While this is indeed a sad situation, it was exacerbated due to the fact that both children saw their parents die. The young ones were subsequently remanded into the custody of Polish psychologists and diplomats.
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