Teen Drowns In Waterfall After Attempting To Take A Selfie

A teenager has died after he fell into a waterfall while trying to take a selfie.

Rohon Mishra, a 19-year-old student, was attempting to take a selfie with his pals at the Bhimkund waterfall in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, when he accidentally fell in and was swept away by a strong current.

The friends had gone to the spot for a picnic and posed for a photo, but Rohon - who could not swim - slipped and fell.

Shocked onlookers attempted to save him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Police and firefighters have begun a search for his body.

Sadly, this is far from the first selfie-related death. A recent global study found that 259 people died between 2011 and 2017 while attempting to take a photo of themselves.

The average age of those who died was around 23 and almost three quarters of deaths were men. Transport, drowning and falls were the most common ways for people to die. Other causes included electrocution, deaths caused by animals and guns.

Selfie-related deaths occurred most frequently in the US, Russia, India and Pakistan, where around 50 percent of all the deaths took place.

The US National Library of Medicine, which conducted the study, found that the rate of selfie-related deaths is increasing, with just three deaths in 2011 and a whopping 98 in 2016.

The study writers then went on to suggest that the actual figure may be even higher.

The report states: "It is believed that selfie deaths are under-reported and the true problem needs to be addressed.

"Certain road accidents while posing for selfies are reported as death due to Road Traffic Accident.

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"Thus, the true magnitude of the problem is underestimated. It is therefore important to assess the true burden, causes, and reasons for selfie deaths so that appropriate interventions can be made."

The study concludes that certain areas - such as bodies of water or perilous cliff tops - should introduce 'no selfie-zones' to help keep members of the public safe.

In September of this year, Tom Frankfurter died in Yosemite National Park, California, while he was attempting to take a selfie and fell 250 metres.

Topics: World News

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]

@ClaireReid19