Most Dangerous Places To Take Selfies

Death by selfie is not such a phenomenon anymore. Yahoo reports that upwards of 480 people have died in pursuit of the ultimate snap; the average age of the victims is 21 years old, according to Priceonomics. The analysis is based on reported incidents but, undoubtedly, there are cases that went unnoticed by the media. 

You only need to browse social media to see that the trend of taking extreme selfies has exploded. People are climbing buildings, leaning off the sides of mountains, and posing with some of the deadliest animals in the world just to get incredible photos. And unfortunately for some, those pursuits have ended in tragedy. If you don't want to become part of that grim statistic, avoid trying to take the perfect selfie in these dangerous locations. 

Some people are ready to do whatever it takes for the "perfect selfie," including risking their lives or going to jail. When Hawaii's Mount Kīlauea erupted in 2018, many thrill seekers were reportedly caught going close to the lava and taking selfies, according to Express. Needless to say, turning your back to actively flowing lava is not a great idea. Roadblocks were even set to deter photographers, but they didn't work. Dozens were apparently arrested and fined. 

Unless you're bungee jumping or have strong cords and a leg harness strapped around you, hanging or standing on the railings of a bridge is dangerous. One of the most well-known incidents of a bridge-related selfie disaster is the death of a 24-year-old Polish college student in 2014. According to The Telegraph, she lost her balance while posing for a self-portrait picture with the Puente de Triana bridge in Seville, Spain, in the background. She fell 23 feet onto a narrow concrete path below. Similar deadly accidents have been reported in Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia. 

Getting a dramatic selfie at the edge of a cliff might sound like the perfect vacation souvenir, but it's an activity that could turn deadly. A Polish couple was killed in 2014 after they tried to take a selfie on the Cabo da Roca cliff in Portugal. They fell hundreds of feet, and their kids witnessed the incident, according to ABC. The parents crossed a barrier to take a selfie together near the 450-feet-high edge, slipped, and plummeted off the beachfront cliff. 

Taking a train provides plenty of opportunities for fun selfies. But there are potentially deadly consequences to not following basic safety precautions (one of the many train travel mistakes people make). In 2014, 21-year-old man in Spain died from electrocution after climbing on top of a train to take a selfie with friends, according to the Mirror. Tragically, it's not the only such incident. 

As reported by Gulf News, a teenager was killed by a speeding train in India in 2018 while posing for a selfie on the track. If you want some snaps of your vacation train ride, make sure to keep a safe distance.

A tourist attraction as popular and revered as the Taj Mahal might seem immune from the threat of deadly selfie accidents but unfortunately, that's not the case. In 2015, a Japanese tourist died after apparently slipping down the stairs at the monument, according to the BBC. The man fell while taking a selfie at the Taj Mahal's Royal Gate. Another man also fell from the same stairs but he luckily only hurt his leg.

Even if you're a strong swimming, you should always take precautions when trying to get a selfie near a body of water. As reported in the Daily Mail, a man died in 2016 after falling at Long Men waterfall in Zhejiang, China, while using a selfie stick to take a picture. The same year, an Indian woman plunged into the ocean and died while she was trying to take a selfie while at the top of a lighthouse, according to Daijiworld. 2016 also saw the selfie-related death of a South Korean tourist who plunged 1,600 feet at the Gocta waterfall in the Amazonas Region of Peru, per the Telegraph. 

Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Europe's most stunning natural landscapes and travel expert Rick Steves even compared it to a combo of the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. But it can also be deadly. Arab News reported in 2016 that a 20-year-old Canadian tourist fell 246 feet off a viewpoint in the park while trying to take a selfie. Miraculously, he survived because tree branches broke his fall. However, a Slovak tourist was killed in 2015 in the same park when she fell from a rock as she was trying to snap a self-portrait. 

"Dear tourists, we respect you. It's time for you to start respecting yourself. So, stop making stupid and dangerous selfies. Thank you," the park service wrote in a Twitter post.

Yes, running with the bulls during the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain, is definitely extreme. And that's exactly why people want to capture themselves in the moment. It goes without saying, though, that there are major risks involved with trying to snap a selfie during this dangerous event. 

The Mirror reported in 2015 that a man died after being gored by a bull while taking a selfie on his mobile phone. The city has passed a law saying that anyone who endangers people's lives by taking photos or filming during the run may face a hefty fine. If the danger doesn't stop you from taking a selfie, hopefully the threat of a fine will.

Anybody who has been to the Grand Canyon can likely attest to the fact that it should be feared as much as it's admired. Approximately 900 people have died in the Grand Canyon since the mid-1800s and about 11 deaths happen every year. Not only that, but the park also has the highest number of missing persons in the U.S. The majority of the canyon doesn't have any railings and you can literally walk to the edge anywhere you go. In 2016, a woman fell off of the edge of a cliff posing for a group shot with her hiking pals, according to Express.

Roller coasters are thrilling, and although we would love to capture the moment or record the fun, it is extremely dangerous to do so. KTLA reported in 2016 that guests at Disney California Adventure were stuck at the top of the California Screamin' roller coaster after a man tried to snap a pic using a selfie stick. Considering the engineering required to send thrill seekers zipping through loops at high speed, it's not hard to see how a selfie stick getting added to the equation is a major safety no-no. (Also: Who wants to drop their phone while going upside down?)

Machu Picchu is a must-see World Heritage Site. But its location high-up in the Peruvian Andes means safety should be prioritized when vising. In 2016, the Daily Mail reported that a German tourist ignored the safety warnings, went out to the edge of the ravine, lost his footing while trying to take a "flying selfie," and plunged 100 meters to his death.

Although shark attacks are relatively rare, it's always a good idea to be alert while swimming in the ocean — especially if you're visiting any of the most shark-infested beaches in the world. In 2015, a man in Hawaii was attacked by a tiger shark and he took a selfie and video to prove it, according to Inquisitr.  Thankfully, the man survived, but it's still probably best to leave your camera on shore. 

Waterton Canyon is a popular hiking spot on the outskirts of the Denver metropolitan area. There, hikers can get away from the urban bustle and connect with nature, including spotting bears. Unfortunately, according to a 2015 report from Mashable, too many visitors to the park tried to cross the line and snap a bear selfie. This resulted in the park being temporarily closed due to the potential danger that activity poses. There are many safe destinations across American where you can see bears in their natural habitat, but in none of them should you try and get a selfie. 

Thousands of people head to the Tour de France to watch the action. It's only natural that one would want to take photos of the excitement. But just because you're a spectator doesn't mean you don't have to keep safety in mind when attending the event. In 2014 it is was reported by Intelligencer that the race that year was marred by a number of crashes caused by people are turning their backs to the cyclists and taking selfies. If you're going to snap a pic at the event, make sure you're well clear of the action.