Footage re-emerges of reporter accidentally getting high from heroin

Footage has resurfaced of the time a BBC journalist accidentally ended up getting high as he was reporting near to a burning pile of ‘heroin, opium, hashish and other narcotics’. And yes, the clip is as brilliant as it sounds - check it out: 

As a Middle Eastern Correspondent, Quentin Sommerville is no stranger to active war zones and has come scarily close to being hit by a rocket while reporting in Ukraine - however, one danger he didn’t seem prepared for was getting high as a kite while standing a little bit too close to burning heap of drugs on camera. 

In the footage he can be seen telling the camera: “Burning behind me is eight and a half tonnes of heroin, opium, hashish and other narcotics.”

But what he didn’t seem to be aware of was how close he was stood to the drugs and their fumes, because while he managed to hold it together pretty well to begin with, things soon went awry and rather than delivering his next line he just let out a little giggle that quickly turned into a laugh. 

Twitter/BBC

On his second attempt he fares even worse and cannot quite get through the first line with more laughter. 

He eventually tells his camera operator, who also seems to be laughing: “Quick, quick - we just need one more.”

However, by this point he’s too far gone and he and the team can all be heard laughing before the clip cuts out. 

Sommerville originally shared the clip all the way back in 2014, where it quickly went viral.

Today after it resurfaced on a Twitter ‘history’ page, the Beeb journalist has re-shared it, much to the delight of his 140,000 followers. 

One person wrote: “If you're going to be remembered for something then being off your tits on the BBC is a great effort.” Yeah, fair play - it’s certainly one for the highlight reel.

Someone else said: “Still the best moment captured on camera, ever.”

While a third commented: “Ah, the famous reporter that got a bit too close to toxic fumes. When I was a child I loved the clip. I am an adult now and I still love the clip.”

Another asked: “I remember this. I love how you kept saying, ‘shhh’. How did you all feel ‘coming down’?” I can imagine he’s probably had better day, to be honest with you. 

Topics: TV and Film, Viral, BBC

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]