North Smithfield, RI – An 18-year-old male is recovering from serious burn injuries after allegedly setting himself on fire as part of a dangerous TikTok challenge over the weekend, according to North Smithfield fire officials.
Incident Details
On Saturday afternoon, emergency crews responded to the Slatersville Reservoir after reports of a person suffering burns.
Authorities said the 18-year-old victim sustained second- and third-degree burns to his back and was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital.
A 16-year-old boy was also at the scene but was not injured and was released to his parents.
Dangerous Viral Trend
Investigators believe the teens were attempting a reckless social media stunt that involved:
- Pouring gasoline on themselves
- Lighting themselves on fire
- Jumping into water afterward
Video obtained by WJAR shows the moment the teen leapt from an old railroad trestle into the reservoir while his body was engulfed in flames.
Witness Reaction
Local resident Tik Keosykhao, who was boating nearby, said to NBC Connecticut:
“That’s crazy, I’ve never seen anything like that. Kids these days need to reconsider their actions because it’s very life-threatening. Not only are they endangering their lives but other lives as well.”
Ongoing Investigation
Officials have not released the name of the injured teen. The case remains under review as authorities warn against copycat incidents fueled by viral online challenges.
Do you think social media platforms should do more to stop these dangerous challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
