The Roundabout of Death Challenge is a dangerous activity that involves children filming themselves sitting in the middle of a roundabout, spinning at dizzying speeds.
At least one participant rides on the roundabout, while the motorcycle or moped’s rear wheel is placed against the disc of the ride and then used to spin the roundabout.
The goal is to hold on to the roundabout for as long as possible, though the effects of strong centrifugal force and increased g-force means that holding on is almost impossible, and participants may fall unconscious.
The challenge can cause severe injuries, including those caused by high G-forces that have been described as ‘normally only seen in fighter pilots’, as well as blunt-force trauma inflicted as a result of colliding with objects while being spun, or being launched from the roundabout against the ground or into stationary objects at high speed.
The challenge can be dated to before 2009, but it received heightened attention in 2018 when a schoolboy from Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, England was subjected to the challenge as a form of school bullying.
How did the Roundabout of Death challenge become popular
The Roundabout of Death Challenge became popular through social media platforms, where children filmed themselves sitting in the middle of a roundabout, spinning at dizzying speeds.
The challenge has become a cause for genuine concern among parents, educators, and healthcare professionals, and has been described as a dangerous activity that can cause severe injuries, including those caused by high G-forces that have been described as ‘normally only seen in fighter pilots’, as well as blunt-force trauma inflicted as a result of colliding with objects while being spun, or being launched from the roundabout against the ground or into stationary objects at high speed.
The challenge has been trending on social media platforms, and it is not clear whether the participants are willing or forced to do it by the older children.
Boy’s eyes turn red
The video of a boy’s eye turning red has gone viral, amplifying awareness about the perils of the Roundabout of death challenge.
Tyler Broome, an 11-year-old from Lincolnshire, suffered injuries typically associated with the rigors of fighter pilot training.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video of Tyler attempting the challenge went viral.
In the footage, the young participant’s eyes turned a vivid shade of red, indicative of the intense pressure exerted on his body during the spinning ordeal.
The video showcased the potential dangers lurking within this seemingly harmless activity.
A recent incident in Wigan brought the dangers of the Roundabout of Death challenge closer to home as a young boy experienced the aftermath of participating in this reckless game.
The case was deemed less severe than Tyler Broome’s.
However, it underscored the pervasive nature of the challenge and its potential to cause harm.
