A British influencer was involved in a horrific accident that has rocked the internet community. The event occurred at one of Spain’s most recognizable sites, a towering structure that has long drawn thrill seekers.
This new escapade has become a sad reminder of the risks associated with performing extreme exploits for social media content.
In Talavera de la Reina, a village west of Madrid, two explorers set out to film what they hoped would be their next viral moment. Their target was the Castilla-La Mancha Bridge, which is the tallest bridge in Spain and the second-highest in Europe.
The Tagus River is crossed by the bridge, which stands 630 feet (192 meters) tall. Despite its magnificence, it is sometimes referred to as the “bridge to nowhere” due to the poor traffic since its opening in 2011.
The brave stunt began at approximately 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, October 13. According to reports, two British guys, ages 26 and 24, arrived at the bridge with the intention of scaling it and filming a social media video.
Unfortunately, none was wearing a safety harness or protective gear. A police official later verified, “He was about 40 to 50 meters up when the fall occurred.”
A passing driver witnessed the tragic fall and contacted the emergency services. Local police, firefighters, and paramedics arrived quickly on the site.
But there was nothing they could do. The 26-year-old man had already died from his injuries by the time they arrived. His body was retrieved and taken to a neighboring funeral home.
The 24-year-old companion was left in shock, unable to talk, and had to be taken in for treatment. He was not charged with a crime, but the local town hall may still consider punishment for mounting the structure unlawfully.
Authorities are currently looking into the actual cause of the fall. Since there had been a lot of rain earlier that morning, the bridge may have been more slick than usual due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The local councillor for citizen security, Macarena Muñoz, voiced her regret over the incident. She repeated that climbing the Castilla La Mancha Bridge is definitely prohibited.
“We have made it clear on several occasions that it’s not something that can be done under any circumstances,” Muñoz added, highlighting the risk of the stunt.
This is not the first time something terrible has happened on this bridge. In 2016, two bloggers were penalized for attempting a similar act without proper protective equipment, underscoring the recurring issue of people pushing the bounds of online popularity.
A terrible reminder of the high stakes involved, the dark quest for viral fame has now claimed a life.
It wasn’t until late in the day that it was revealed that a British daredevil influencer had died while attempting to scale the bridge for a social media stunt.
As authorities continue to investigate this sad accident, the online community mourns the loss of a young influencer who, in his pursuit of adventurous content, paid the ultimate price.
Featured Image Credit: (Solarpix.com)
