A 17-year-old girl has died after falling from a 30-metre cliff in Australia. His goal? Take a photo of the sunset.
This tragic drama is a new warning about the dangers of risky behavior in order to obtain spectacular images. Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor, regularly sounds the alarm on this phenomenon.
A fatal fall for a spectacular photo
The tragedy took place this Saturday evening, around 6:40 p.m., at Moffat Beach, north of Brisbane. The 17-year-old young woman, who came to enjoy the sunset from a viewpoint, climbed over the security barrier to try to capture an even more impressive image. It was while slipping that she made a dizzying fall of 30 meters, landing on the rocks below, reports the Australian media 9News.
Despite the rapid intervention of witnesses, the outcome was fatal. “Sadly, she died at the scene. His injuries were very serious“, said a Queensland police inspector. The rescue operation was particularly difficult due to the rugged terrain. The authorities and firefighters took the opportunity to strongly remind the population never to exceed the security barriers at tourist sites.
Studies show that this type of accident, often linked to taking selfies, particularly affects tourists and, in many cases, young women, often obsessed with the idea of the viral photo. Focusing on the phone screen too often makes us forget the immediate danger.
“They are looking for the perfect image”
Faced with this growing phenomenon, Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor, reiterates his warnings. For him, the cause of these accidents is often the same: the obsession with images.
“Many of these young people are obsessed with the ‘perfect selfie’. Result: they climb to the top of a building or a cliff, don’t pay attention, back up and it’s an accident. But even a fairly trivial fall can have serious consequences.”he emphasizes.
The search for “spectacular” photos leads, according to the expert, to unconscious behavior among young people and adults alike.
“Once again here, they are looking for the perfect image, the one that will generate buzz. We must therefore use common sense, minimize the risks and above all take a sufficient step back to ask ourselves what is the point of taking these photos.”insists Dr. Kierzek.
According to medical literature, a 2017 study counted 75 deaths linked to taking selfies, mainly with a smartphone. The number of these incidents doubles every year, with the average age of victims being 23.3 years old. The majority of victims are men (82%), often students or tourists. Another study, covering the period from October 2011 to November 2017, recorded 259 deaths. India is the country with the highest number of such deaths, followed by Russia and the United States. The most common causes include falls from height, drowning, and railway accidents, although more unusual cases have been reported, such as a grenade explosion or drowning caused by a walrus. The search for the perfect selfie encourages some people to take reckless risks and engage in dangerous behaviors to obtain the ideal image. These perilous situations often involve heights, water, roads, vehicles, animals and weapons.
The doctor’s 5 tips for safe selfies
To prevent the quest for a memory from turning into tragedy, Dr. Kierzek reminds us of some basic rules for safe selfies and photos:
- Always check your surroundings before striking a pose;
- Avoid photographing yourself near an empty space, a body of water or a road;
- Never back away from staring at your phone screen;
- Always respect safety barriers and signs;
- Remember, no photo is worth a life.
Dr. Kierzek invites everyone to regain awareness of the present moment. “Taking a photo should never make you forget your own safety.”he concludes.