In today’s hyper‑connected world, the phrase “10 selfies went” has become a cautionary mantra for anyone who thinks a quick snap can’t have consequences. While selfies often capture spontaneous joy, they sometimes spiral into chaotic, costly, or even tragic events. Below, we count down ten jaw‑dropping moments where a simple desire for a perfect picture turned into a story worth a double‑take.
10 selfies went: The Rise of Dangerous Selfies
10. Pumpkin Sculpture Damage
In February 2017, a visitor to Washington, D.C.’s Hirshhorn Museum attempted a selfie with Yayoi Kusama’s famed pumpkin installation, only to tumble off a platform and knock a pumpkin off its perch. The accidental strike left a visible dent in the artwork, forcing the museum to replace the damaged piece.
The piece was part of Kusama’s expansive Infinity Mirrors exhibition, which celebrates her six‑decade legacy as the “princess of polka dots.” The incident highlighted how a momentary quest for a perfect pose can jeopardize priceless art.
9. Hypercaine Exhibition Damage
July 2017 saw a woman in Los Angeles reach for the perfect angle at The 14th Factory, only to trigger a domino effect that devastated Simon Birch’s Hypercaine showcase. Leaning against a pedestal, she lost balance; each stand toppled the next, sending sculptures crashing to the floor. The cascade resulted in roughly $200,000 worth of damage, with three works permanently ruined and several others scarred.
Birch’s ambitious display, featuring collaborators Gabriel Chan, Jacob Blitzer, and Gloria Yu, was originally praised as a series of “over‑the‑top sets for the perfect selfie.” The irony was stark: a selfie‑seeker became the very cause of the exhibition’s downfall.
8. Statue Of The Two Hercules Damage
In 2015, two tourists in Cremona, Italy, attempted a daring climb atop the historic Statue of the Two Hercules to capture a selfie, inadvertently dislodging the marble crown that crowns the dual figures. The crown shattered on the piazza floor, breaking into fragments as the tourists scrambled down.
The 18th‑century marble masterpiece, an emblem of the city since its relocation to Piazza del Comune in 1962, suffered a rare act of vandalism. Authorities identified the culprits and began assessing the full extent of the damage to the historic work.
7. Crocodile Bite
January 2017 brought a terrifying twist to a Thai adventure when French tourist Benetulier Lesuffleur, 47, chased a crocodile for a selfie in Khao Yai National Park. Ignoring clear signage to stay on the trail, she sprinted toward the pond, slipped, and plunged into the water where the reptile clamped onto her leg.
Rescue teams swiftly extracted her, and she was transported by stretcher to a local hospital. Doctors reported a full recovery expected, but the incident underscored the perils of wildlife selfies when caution is tossed aside.
6. Fall From A Bridge
An unidentified young woman from Sacramento, California, took an ill‑advised selfie beneath the Foresthill Bridge on April 4, 2017. While navigating a restricted catwalk, she lost her footing, tumbling 18 meters (about 60 feet) to the trail below.
Law enforcement noted the walkway was closed to the public, yet no citations were issued. Deputies posted a warning on Facebook, emphasizing that a selfie‑induced fall should deter future trespassing. The woman was airlifted to a hospital and expected to survive the ordeal.
5. Driving While Topless
College sophomore Miranda Kay Rader, 19, mixed intoxication with a quest for a topless Snapchat selfie on October 27, 2016. While trying to capture the daring pose, she lost control of her SUV, slamming into the rear of a police cruiser.
Officers reported hearing squealing brakes before the impact and discovering an open wine bottle in her cup holder. Rader faced charges for driving while intoxicated and possession of alcohol as a minor, posting a $2,000 bond to secure her release.
4. Electrocution
In March 2014, a 21‑year‑old man from Andújar, Spain, climbed onto a moving train to snap a selfie, only to touch a live 3,500‑volt wire. The sudden jolt proved fatal; paramedics found him already deceased, while his companion survived a severe shock.
The incident sparked debate over the dangers of seeking daring backdrops for photos, emphasizing that a momentary thrill can have irreversible consequences.
3. Train Fatality
November 2014 saw a heartbreaking tragedy in Belgium when 12‑year‑old Charlotte, daughter of Carla Nunez, was struck by a train while posing for a selfie on the tracks. The Belgian rail operator SNCB later billed Nunez $21,400 for track‑repair costs.
Nunez expressed shock at receiving a damage invoice rather than an insurance claim, describing it as a “hammer blow.” She confronted SNCB’s chief executive, demanding accountability. Belgian MP David Geerts condemned the railway’s insensitivity, urging empathy over financial penalties.
2. Gunshot To The Head
On May 21, 2015, a 21‑year‑old Russian office worker attempted a daring selfie while holding a 9‑mm handgun to her temple. The weapon, left behind by a security guard, discharged when she inadvertently squeezed the trigger, wounding herself in the temple.
She survived, listed in “serious condition” by Moscow’s Sklifosovsky Hospital. A year later, a similar incident unfolded in India: 15‑year‑old Ramandeep Singh pointed his father’s .32‑caliber pistol at his own head for a selfie, pulled the trigger, and succumbed to the fatal wound.
1. Self‑Incrimination
Police investigations in Krasnodar, Russia, uncovered a chilling tableau of self‑inflicted documentation. Dmitry Baksheev, 35, and his wife Natalya, 42, were suspected of murdering up to 30 individuals over two decades. In September 2017, road workers discovered Baksheev’s phone, replete with selfies of him posing with a severed hand and other dismembered body parts.
Searches of their military barracks dormitory revealed frozen human meat, salted body fragments, and a jar containing the same severed hand featured in the selfies. Authorities believe the couple drugged victims with ether and Corvalol before killing them, storing the remains in freezers and a cellar. Both confessed to the gruesome acts, yet sentencing remains pending.
Amid the macabre details, author Gary Pullman, a UNLV instructor, noted the bizarre coincidence of the couple’s location near Area 51, hinting at “a lot” of unexplained intrigue.