5 fatal selfie-related deaths in the world

Updated Nov 08, 2022 | Same topic: Highlights of the Week

Taking selfie from anywhere at any time is definitely bad idea if you value your life.
It would seem that selfie is never listed as an official cause of death. However, for over a couple of years, unfortunate accidents related to selfie have been in an upward trend.
 
In this article, we will go over 5 disastrous victims who killed themselves while simply trying to show them off to their friends and the whole world with selfie pictures.

>>> Here are the 5 deadliest bus crashes in the Philippines during the past 5 years
 

1. US: Woman died in car crash

In a morning of June, a selfie appeared on Courtney Sanford’s Facebook timeline with a caption: “The happy song makes me so HAPPY.” Only one minute after that post, police were called to reports of a serious car crash.
 
Selfie picture of Courtney Sanford

A selfie appeared on Courtney Sanford’s Facebook timeline with a caption: “The happy song makes me so HAPPY.” 

Courtney, 32, had died in a fatal head-on collision on a US highway named Interstate 85. The police reported that Courtney’s car crashed into a recycling truck and then burst into flames.
 
Through evidence from Courtney’s Facebook, police came to a conclusion that she was killed herself by selfie-ing while driving on the highway. “As sad as it is, it is also a grim reminder for everyone… you just have to pay attention while you are in the car,” said a police officer.

>>> View more: Top 5 most accident prone roads and highways in Metro Manila
 

2. Russia: 17-year-old girl fell from railway bridge

The first victim, Xenia Ignatyeva, a 17-year-old Russian died after falling from a railway bridge.
 
Xenia Ignatyeva and the railway bridge where she fell from

Xenia decided to go up to the top of the railway bridge in Krasnogvardeysky to take impressive pictures of herself

Xenia was a devoted amateur photographer; her big passion had been taking selfies with a new camera she bought with her savings from a summer job.  Nevertheless, the day Xenia decided to go up to the top of the railway bridge in Krasnogvardeysky, Saint Petersburg to take impressive pictures of herself, she couldn’t indulge her passion anymore.
 
As she slipped from the bridge, desperately tried to grab the high electrical wires and consequently, electrocuted herself by 1,500 volts before dropping on the concrete.
 
At that time, Xenia was just a month short of her 18th birthday.
 
A sign warning not taking selfie on voltage

Don't even try a voltage-carrying selfie

3. Italy: Teenager plunged to death on rocks

This picturesque seaside town of Taranto is where Isabella Fracchiolla ended her own life at the age of 16.
 
Town of Taranto

This picturesque seaside town of Taranto is where Isabella Fracchiolla ended her own life 

It is said that in a school trip to Taranto, Isabella was trying to take a selfie on the seafront and unfortunately, plunged 18 meters onto craggy rocks then suffered multiple injuries to her femur, pelvis and head. After an operation in hospital, doctors weren’t able to save her life due to those serious injuries.
 
A sign warning people to take pictures on safe path

Choose a safe path while selfie-ing
 

4. Mexico: Man killed himself by taking gun-toting selfie

Oscar Otero Aguilar, 21, is known for his passion for taking all sorts of selfies. Nevertheless, he had never thought that he could die when posted with a gun.
 
selfie of Oscar Otero Aguilar

Oscar Otero Aguilar is known for his passion for taking all sorts of selfies

After a fun night drinking with his friends, Oscar wasn’t aware that the gun he used to selfie was loaded and accidentally shot himself in the face. When police arrived, they found Oscar still alive, but they lost a battle to save him.
 

5. Philippines: School girl fell off stairs

The victim is Marie Rocello, a 14-year-old girl of Rizal High School in Pasig City. According to Pasig police, the girl lost balance and fell from the stairs when she was posting with her classmates.
 
portrait of Marie Rocello

Marie Rocello lost balance and fell from the stairs when she was posting with her classmates

After the incident, she was transferred to a nearby hospital; regretfully, the girl was declared dead on arrival since she had sustained head injury, bruises, and a broken rib that hit her kidney.
 
The police report also said that the teenager was seen using an energy drink during the time she took selfies.
 
Concerning Pasig City, there is an unexpected fact that the city, together with Makati was high on the list of the “selfiest cities in the world”, reported by Time Magazine online.
 
>>> Click here for more useful tips and advice on safe driving in the Philippines.