A 20-year-old man attempted to commit suicide on the anonymous 4chan website as 200 viewers watched in horror, some encouraging his death.
The young man, identified as Stephen, announced his suicide plans and decided to broadcast the event for everyone to see. Hundreds signed up to watch his attempt, scheduled for 7pm on Saturday, and even helped the man set up the video stream for the “an hero,” which is online slang for suicide attempt. He posted this message on the website:
“As an oldf*g who’s been on 4chan since 2004, I thought I would finally give back to the community in the best possible way,’ he wrote on the notorious imageboard. I am willing to an hero [commit suicide] on cam for you all. All that I request is for you guys to link me to a site where I am able to stream it for you guys.”
The student at Ontario’s University of Guelph took a handful of pills and drank alcohol before lighting a corner of his dorm room on fire. He then retreated under his bed as smoke filled the room.
Many users, frustrated with not being able to see Stephen in the smoke logged camera, demanded that other viewers take photos if they had a better vantage point.
Stephen typed a message to the viewers from under his bed as the fire began to spread.
“#imdead #omgimonfire’ and I’m f*ck3d’.”
Eventually a firefighter pulled Stephen from the room. About 120 students were evacuated from the dorm where Stephen resided and will not be able to return until an investigation is complete.
But fortunately, it looks like Stephen will be OK.
Brenda White, Vice President for Student Affairs told MailOnline: “We haven’t been able to speak to the student yet. He’s in hospital and he’s going to be okay.”
“He can’t talk to anyone at the moment. His mum is with him and we may be able to talk to him in the next day or two. He’s going to be in a fragile state. We’re respecting his privacy and need to recover with the interest it’s a difficult balance.”
According to the Guelph Mercury, the victim was rushed to hospital with ‘serious but non life-threatening injuries’ caused by smoke inhalation.
Authorities are trying to take the disturbing video down, but because it is on so many guerrilla sites, that task proves difficult.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | PHOTO CREDIT: Live Leak/4Chan
