An Arizona hiker died this week after trying to take a selfie near the edge of a cliff.
The crash happened Monday in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona. Richard Jacobson, 21, was camping with a friend at the Flatiron Trail summit in Los Dutchman State Park when, around midnight, he approached the edge of the cliff trying to take a selfie with the lights. of the Phoenix in the background. Tragically, Jacobson lost his balance and fell over a cliff to his death. His friend called 911 at about 12:45 a.m., and Jacobson’s body was found and recovered later that day.
A study in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care found that between 2011 and 2017, at least 259 people died during selfies. Of those 259, most are between the ages of 20 and 29 and male. The most deaths occurred in India and Russia, while the three most common causes were drowning, being hit by a vehicle and falling from a height. Research shows that the risk decreases significantly after age 30. Sadly, the real number may be higher than 259, as many such deaths go unreported.
Led image by Doug Doldepublic domain.
