Man Falls 40 Feet to his Death While Taking a Selfie Above Beach in Brazil
A man plunged nearly 40 feet to his death after losing his balance while taking a selfie in Brazil.
Igor de Oliveira Rodrigues Dias fell from a rock overlooking Joatinga Beach in Rio de Janeiro on the afternoon of November 10.
According to local media publication O DIA, Dias decided to scale the rock so he could take a selfie from the spot.
As he took the photograph, Dias lost his balance and slipped. He plunged 40 feet to the ground, where he hit his head on another rock below.
Firefighters arrived shortly after that, whereupon they pronounced Dias dead at the scene and airlifted his body out of the area via helicopter, DIY Photography notes.
Dias’ mother Luiza Rodrigues, says that her son had visited Joatinga Beach to celebrate landing a new job.
“In the morning he had signed a contract with a company he wanted to work for,” she says. “So he went out with a friend to have a little celebration on the beach.”
“I talked to him, asked where he was. He replied that he was on the beach,” she adds. “But I don’t know why he decided to climb that high rock.”
In a statement, Fabio Contreiras, a spokesperson for Rio de Janeiro Fire Department warned the public against risking their lives to take a selfie on the beach.
“We always have to be safe, never get close to the edge of the rocks, ask someone to take a picture, if necessary,” says Contreiras.
He adds “Always seek safety first. Don’t risk your life for likes.”
A study by the iO Foundation found 379 people were killed while taking selfies around the world between January 2008 and July 2021.
India ranked at the top of the list with 100 deaths while the U.S. came second with 39 deaths.
The researchers of the iO report also compiled data on the 10 most dangerous places on earth to take a selfie. These spots include the Glen Canyon in the U.S., Niagara Falls in Canada, Charco del Burro in Colombia, and Penha beach in Brazil.
Last week, PetaPixel reported that more people in Australia are dying after accidentally falling from cliffs and experts believe selfies are behind the growing trend.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
