Dangerous trends: Teens posting videos of stunts on social media turn into complicated rescue operations
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Fire departments have reported a surge in incidents linked to social media challenges, with teens performing potentially dangerous stunts and posting videos of them. Two recent cases in 2026 stand out for their severity and the scale of the emergency response they led to.
Photo (Above) of the rescue on Queensboro Bridge, New York, on February 16, 2026 by FDNY
Boy fell down a narrow shaft on a bridge - New York City
As reported by FireEngineering.com and others, in mid February a 16‑year‑old boy attempting to film a TikTok stunt fell 50 feet / 15 meters into a confined shaft inside the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.
The boy had reportedly fallen down a 3 feet X 3 feet / 09 meters X 0,9 meters shaft after climbing a section of the bridge over Roosevelt Island earlier in the day as part of a attempting a social media stunt.
According to WestSideSpirit.com and others, around 75 firefighters and EMS were called to the scene, as well as the NYPD, with police boats in the East River and an NYPD helicopter circling the scene overhead.
Days following, authorities were reportedly still piecing together what happened to the 16‑year‑old boy who had to be rescued on Feb. 16 from the bottom of a 50‑foot maintenance shaft on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. Investigators believe he may have slipped from a ladder inside the structure before becoming trapped.
Early reports suggested the teen may have been attempting to record a TikTok video when the incident occurred. Posts on Reddit claimed the boy—identified only by his nickname allegedly remained at the bottom of the shaft for several hours before anyone called 911, and that as many as three companions were said to have fled the scene after he fell.
FDNY responders described the rescue as a high‑angle, confined‑space operation requiring ropes, air monitoring, and more than 75 firefighters and EMS personnel. The teen had been trapped for hours, suffering hypothermia and major trauma before being pulled out and transported in critical condition.
PIX11.com wrote that the teen had climbed down a ladder into the bridge buttress to film the stunt and became stuck in the narrow passageway. FDNY officials emphasized the complexity of the rescue and the hours the boy spent trapped before help arrived. The rescue reportedly required a Spec‑Pak harness and a vertical haul through a tight shaft.
ABC7 Eyewitness News reported that the teen was with friends when the incident occurred. However, it wasn't those friends who called 9/11, but another group who discovered the boy much later.
Queens Today wrote on March 1 that two other teens, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, were arrested for allegedly recording the stunt instead of calling for help, leaving the victim alone and injured for hours. Police said the group had planned to post the video on TikTok.
“It was a very difficult, time-consuming rescue that involves high-angle equipment and ropes,” FDNY Deputy Chief Nicholas Corrado said. “But we got to the victim … and got him out.”
The ABC7 article features a news video showing parts of the rescue.
Fire‑breathing TikTok trend leaves girl severely burned — Pittsburgh area
In Pennsylvania, a young girl was severely burned after attempting a TikTok “fire‑breathing” trend, according to a CBS Pittsburgh article on March 2. Firefighters reported that the stunt involved igniting a flammable substance while blowing it from the mouth — a technique that can cause flash burns, facial injuries, and airway damage even under controlled conditions. The girl required emergency medical care for significant burn injuries.
According to the article, the Pitcairn Fire Chief Tommy Dick said the girl was playing with isopropyl alcohol Friday night February 27, 2026.
"It's not a very smart thing for anybody to do, let alone children," Dick said. "It's supposed to be for cleaning off wounds and cuts and stuff, not ingesting and trying to blow fire."
The injuries in this were limited to the outside of her body, however the girl may be lucky to be alive:
"This could have easily gone inside their digestive track, and she could have died," the Chief added.
YouTube Video below from ABC News of the High Angle Rescue in New York: