Two Teens Facing Charges After TikTok Stunt Goes Wrong
Two teenagers are in trouble following a reckless TikTok stunt that resulted in a 16-year-old boy falling 50 feet and getting stuck inside a shaft on the Queensboro Bridge. Family members of the boy accuse his so-called friends of abandoning him in his moment of need.
A 14-year-old and a 15-year-old have been arrested and charged due to this dangerous incident that occurred on Monday night, according to a spokesperson for the New York City Police Department.
The younger individual faces charges for reckless endangerment and trespassing, while the older teen has been charged solely with trespassing.
Authorities reported that around 5:45 p.m. on Monday, they were alerted via a 911 call and found the boy from Lynbrook, Long Island, trapped in a mineshaft.
Sources indicate that he was attempting to film a stunt for TikTok when the incident occurred.
Rescuing the boy took around 75 first responders and ten pieces of equipment, as detailed by FDNY Deputy Chief Nicholas Corrado during a press conference at the scene.
After the rescue, he was transported to Weill Cornell NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and is currently listed in critical but stable condition, according to police reports.
There’s an online petition calling for an investigation into the situation, claiming that two friends recorded the boy, referred to as “Frankie,” as he helplessly screamed for help, and shared the footage online.
The petition states, “No one deserves to be abandoned and left to die during the worst and most traumatic moments of their lives.” It has gathered over 1,000 signatures, alleging that the teens took Frankie’s phone to stop him from calling for help before leaving the scene.
A few hours later, an anonymous viewer of the video informed the authorities. The FDNY had to search through every shaftway on the Queensboro Bridge before they found Frankie’s shoes and traces of blood.
To support his recovery, a GoFundMe was established, noting that he dealt with hypothermia and significant blood loss during the fall, and now faces an extensive recovery journey involving surgeries and rehabilitation.
A fundraising group for his family remarked, “His survival is nothing short of a miracle.”
In recent years, TikTok has faced criticism for promoting various dangerous stunts, raising concerns over safety on the platform.
