CHILDERSBURG, ALABAMA: The boat jumping challenge has been held responsible for four fatalities in Alabama. This dangerous water activity has gained popularity through TikTok. Participants take part in the challenge by propelling themselves off the rear of a boat and into the water while the boat remains in motion. However, authorities in Alabama have reported that this recent trend has resulted in the tragic deaths of four people who died of immediate neck injuries.
Over the past six months, officials have encountered four drowning incidents that could have been easily prevented. Captain Jim Dennis with the Childersburg Rescue Squad told WPDE, "Last six months, we have had four drownings that were easily avoidable. They were doing a TikTok challenge. It’s where you get in a boat going at a high rate of speed, you jump off the side of the boat, don’t dive, you’re jumping off feet first and you just kinda lean into the water."
'They literally broke their neck'
He continued, "The four that we responded to when they jumped out of the boat, they literally broke their neck and, you know, basically an instant death. I think people, if they're being filmed on camera, I think they're more likely to do something stupid because they want to show off in front of their friends for social media."
Captain Dennis expressed concern over the trend, stating that in all four incidents they responded to, the victims were male, including a father. He apprehensively anticipates that this dangerous trend will continue to gain momentum over the summer. "That is a very big concern because we have seen this pattern emerge over the last two years and it’s sporadic," he said, adding, "But it’s something that needs to go away and stay away."
He mentioned that one of the incidents took place in February, where a father was accompanied by his three children, wife, and other loved ones on a boat, tragically resulting in his recorded death. The most recent occurrence in Alabama transpired in May and involved a middle-aged man. Videos circulating on TikTok showcase individuals partaking in the trend by jumping off the back of swiftly moving boats into turbulent white water. One particular video was allegedly filmed at Lake Norman, North Carolina, displaying five individuals jumping and executing backflips into the water.
'It’s almost like hitting concrete at that speed'
Larry King, a boater who frequently visits Logan Martin Lake, mentioned that he has not personally witnessed this particular trend during his time on the water. He firmly believes that jumping out of a boat at high speeds is an unwise decision. Drawing from his personal experience of growing up skiing and understanding the sensation of hitting the water at high velocities, he emphasizes the potential dangers involved in such actions. "When you hit the water, it’s almost like hitting concrete at that speed. So, nothing good is going to come from hitting water at that speed," said King.
