We all act foolishly when we’re young. After all, a necessary part of maturing is understanding when to refuse something that seems risky.
Even the brightest children can be forced and persuaded to participate in stunts that threaten terrible repercussions because children are vulnerable to peer pressure and similar pressures.
Just ask Tyler Broome’s parents, an 11-year-old who experimented with the “roundabout of death” YouTube trend who suffered terrible injuries.
Yes, the name pretty much tells you everything you need to know, but for Tyler, it wasn’t so much a risky prank as it was a way to impress his pals with his bravery.
After being exposed to extremely high gravitational force (G-force), the 11-year-old then suffered injuries similar to those observed in fighter pilots.
In the “roundabout of death” craze, which he took part in, people sit in the center of a playground roundabout while the rear wheel of a motorcycle spins it quickly.
Shortly after the incident, Tyler was discovered unconscious close to the roundabout, possibly with brain and visual damage. He reportedly experienced G-forces that are typically only experienced by astronauts and pilots.
According to reports, Tyler and a friend were in a nearby park when they were approached by some older kids who challenged them to a game.
“I don’t recognise my child – he is on the verge of having a stroke. Tyler sat on the roundabout, and the boy who came over was about 17. Tyler doesn’t know him, they are not friends,” his mom Dawn said.
“He puts his motorbike on the floor, gets the roundabout spinning at such a speed. When they all stopped, the group just cleared off – it is bullying.”
Dawn alleged that before they could start treating her kid, the hospital staff had to conduct research since they had never seen such injuries.
“The injuries were so extreme, he just looked like the Elephant Man. They have never seen it before, they are going to make a medical report from it.
“His head has completely swelled up, his blood vessels have burst, his eyes look alien. His vision is blurry. You can manage a broken arm but this? He doesn’t remember it, he doesn’t remember the detail.”
Please remember as parents that children are prone to trying things that we adults would steer clear of.
Tyler the child and his family are in our hearts and prayers. Share this tale to raise awareness of a game that is highly risky.