Top 10 Viral Challenges That Got People Killed
“Hot Water Challenge”
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Drinking hot water isn’t necessarily dangerous. However, this was on a different level of unsafe. In 2018, a viral challenge spread in which participants would either pour boiling water on someone or drink boiling water through a straw. This resulted in Indianapolis 15-year-old Kyland Clark suffering second-degree burns. Even more tragically, it also reportedly caused the death of 8-year-old Florida girl Ki’ari Pope. After drinking boiling water, reportedly on a dare from a cousin, Pope was hospitalized, damaging her mouth and throat. Five months later, Pope experienced breathing difficulties and became unconscious. She died 40 minutes later at the hospital.
“Car Surfing”
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This dangerous act has been around since long before the days of social media. But it’s a trend with unfortunate longevity. Car surfing involves riding on the outside of a car or other vehicle being driven by someone else. Though participants might think this is a harmless way to play daredevil, it is completely unsafe under any circumstances. In 2023, a 16-year-old in Colorado died after sustaining intense injuries when the car he was hanging out the back window of rolled over. And that’s by no means an isolated incident. And even when car surfing incidents aren’t fatal, they can still lead to devastating outcomes, as was the case for another 16-year-old, Hannah Huntoon from Florida.
“One Chip Challenge”
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Spicy food can be tough to handle. But this challenge took it to a new extreme. Beginning in 2016, Amplify Snack Brands promoted the “One Chip Challenge” for their brand Paqui. For this challenge, participants would eat a tortilla chip flavored with the extremely spicy Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers. The intense heat from the chip resulted in medical attention needed for some. In 2023, Harris Wolobah, a Massachusetts 14-year-old, took part in the challenge. After eating the chip, he experienced intense stomach pains and died a few hours later. As a result of this tragedy, Paqui pulled the product from shelves and ended their promotion of it.
“Neknominating”
Drinking games might just seem like a fun way to loosen up. But they can have tragic results, as shown by this challenge. “Neknominating” which started in New Zealand and made its way to other countries, involves nominated participants filming themselves attempting to down a pint of an alcoholic drink in a single gulp. At least five deaths have been linked to this challenge, with victims typically drinking copious amounts of beverages with high alcohol contents in a short amount of time. These tragedies serve as an intense reminder as to why proper alcohol safety is so important.
“Ice Bucket Challenge”
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You may have fond memories of participating in the “Ice Bucket Challenge” in 2014, helping to raise money and spread awareness for ALS. But that same year, the challenge was indirectly linked to a Scottish teen’s death. 18-year-old Cameron Lancaster drowned after reportedly doing a variation of the challenge in which he jumped feet first into a flooded quarry - an act known as “tombstoning.” His body was found by emergency workers four hours later. This, sadly, wasn’t the only death indirectly linked to this challenge. That same year, Willis Tepania, a 40-year-old New Zealand man, died of a heart attack after having ice water poured on him before drinking a large quantity of bourbon.
“Planking”
Another fad that was huge in the 2010s, planking involves participants lying horizontally on odd surfaces, such as on countertops or desks. For the most part, it was just a fun excuse for people to take some silly photos. However, some participants took the challenge too far, planking in rather unsafe situations. Acton Beale, a 20-year-old Australian man, died after falling from a seventh-story balcony railing he was attempting to plank on. Among those who commented on this tragic death was then-Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, who offered a crucial reminder about why it’s so important to prioritize safety above all else.
“Happy Slapping”
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Don’t let the name fool you. There’s nothing remotely “happy” about this 2000s fad. Originating in the U.K., “happy slapping” refers to attacking and filming unsuspecting victims with physical violence. Violating someone’s personal boundaries like this is not okay under any circumstances. And some of these incidents ended up going much further than slapping. Among those who were killed as a result of this challenge were 40-year-old bartender David Morley and 67-year-old retired care worker, Ekram Haque, both from London. And there are sadly more fatal cases from there, as well as other disturbing “happy slapping” incidents.
“Benadryl Challenge”
Any medication, even those available over-the-counter, needs to be used responsibly. Sadly, improper substance use can have terrible results, as was the case with the so-called “Benadryl Challenge.” This challenge, started in 2020, involved participants consuming large amounts of the popular antihistamine, commonly available in pharmacies. In 2023, Jacob Stevens, a 13-year-old from Ohio, was filmed eating more than a dozen tablets by his friends. He then started seizing and was admitted to the ICU. After enduring intense brain damage and spending six days on a ventilator, he was taken off life support. That same year, Chloe Marie Phillips, a 15-year-old Oklahoma girl, reportedly died as a result of the same challenge.
“Chroming”
Inhaling chemicals from common household items is not a new trend. It’s known under many names, including, “huffing,” “sniffing,” and, more recently, “chroming.” But no matter what you call it, it’s incredibly dangerous, with numerous deaths reported. In 2023, Esra Haynes, a 13-year-old Australian girl, took part in the “chroming” trend that had spread on TikTok. After inhaling the chemicals from a deodorant can at a sleepover, Haynes went into cardiac arrest and experienced irrevocable brain damage. Following this devastating experience, her father Paul said it would be the family’s “crusade” to help prevent this from happening to others.
“Blackout Challenge”
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Oxygen deprivation is one of the most dangerous things for someone to experience. But it was the purpose of this viral challenge. Though similar challenges have reportedly existed since the 90s, the “blackout challenge” spread via TikTok in 2021. Participants would try to suppress their breathing for extended periods, with fatal consequences. At least 20 children have reportedly died from this challenge, many of whom were 12 or younger. TikTok was also served with multiple lawsuits related to the challenge. Though these suits were dismissed, the platform has blocked users for searching videos related to the challenge. Instead, a warning message is shown. What do you think should be done to prevent deaths from viral challenges? Let us know in the comments.