The so-called “duct tape challenge”---which is a growing trend of wrapping people in duct tape so they can try to break free---doesn’t seem like a great idea now.
A Washington teen ended up needing 48 stitches in his head and has been recovering for more than a week after taking the challenge.
Teen gets 48 stitches in his head after “duct tape challenge” gone wrong https://t.co/aXA2nhK7hk pic.twitter.com/bM4j03dc0b
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) January 26, 2016
Skylar Fish, 14, smashed his eye socket and cheekbone, requiring surgery for bleeding on his brain. He’s unable to see out of one eye, and doctors say the damage could be permanent, KCPQ-TV in Seattle reported.
Fish hit his head on a concrete metal window frame while taking part in the challenge.
“If he would have hit on it differently, an inch over, he could have died,” mother Sarah Fish told KCPQ. “If his friend didn’t flip him over when he was having a seizure and choking up blood, he could have died.”
‘Duct tape challenge’ warning via teen with shattered eye socket and aneurysm https://t.co/kSCqmY7Abd pic.twitter.com/QUjL51GZwW
— Jenkers News (ENG) (@jenkers_en) January 27, 2016
Fish’s family is now warning other people---namely teenagers---from doing the challenge.
But Fish told KIRO-TV he performed the stunt several times before with his friends. Those times, he and his pals would tape one another to poles.
On Jan. 16, he allowed his friends to wrap him with tape while he was standing up, which was captured on camera.
Fish, of Renton, noted that he’s “lucky to be alive,” saying it felt like he was “hit by a car.”
Others shouldn’t attempt the challenge, he cautions.
‘I nearly died after taking part in the duct tape challenge’ https://t.co/ngDCQ7jULx pic.twitter.com/76pcoEAhp3
— The Sun (@TheSun) January 26, 2016
“Teach other kids not to do it,” he told KIRO. “When I think about it, like, I become sad, and then really happy. I’m happy because I survived it. I almost died.”
Sarah Fish also started a GoFundMe page for her son’s recovery.
“I’m ... really lucky to be alive.” Teen’s duct tape challenge goes horribly wrong: https://t.co/aiHJf7Vgoh pic.twitter.com/2nToy6QHR8
— The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) January 26, 2016
“Like most teens, Sky liked to do fun things with his friends that he didnt always like to tell me about, for fear of mom not letting him,” she wrote. “Today, there are so many ‘challenges’ going around on social medias. Some are harmless, but most of them are really dangerous!”
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