'Dangerous selfies' result in at least 259 deaths globally in eight years - study

woman takes selfie on train tracks
The researchers concluded popular tourist areas should be declared "no selfie zones". Photo credit: Getty.

Shocking new statistics revealing the killer nature of selfie-taking have been released. 

Researchers at the US National Library of Medicine have recommended that "no selfie zones" should be declared across popular tourist areas around the world, after they resulted in at least 259 deaths from October 2011 to November 2017. 

The study, titled 'Selfies: A boon or bane?' was published in the July/August issue of the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Car. 

The researchers concluded that warning signs should especially be erected around apply to "bodies of water, mountain peaks, and over tall buildings to decrease the incidence of selfie-related deaths." 

Drowning, transport accidents and falling were found to be the most common cause of death. But death by animals, electrocution, and fire also appeared frequently in reports from around the world.

However the study notes that "selfies are never reported as an official cause of death," meaning the "true magnitude of the problem is underestimated".

"For example, certain road accidents while posing for selfies are reported as death due to road traffic accident," it explains. 

Unsurprisingly, the US leads the world in people who accidentally shot themselves while posing with guns.

More surprisingly, while many might think of taking selfies as more of a female pursuit, about 72.5 percent of the total deaths occurred in males and 27.5 percent in females. 

 

Causes of selfie-related death:

'Dangerous selfies' result in at least 259 deaths globally in eight years - study
Photo credit: Study.

 

Newshub.