An article saying a woman, “Latasha Brown,” died in Houston after taking the popular “ice water challenge” is fake, but there have been reports of a New Zealand man dying of cardiac arrest after partaking in the game.
The fake article about “Latasha Brown,” which appears to be a made-up name, was posted on Huzlers.com, a self-described “satire” website.
A disclaimer at the bottom of the Huzlers page reads: “Huzlers.com is a combination of real shocking news and satire news to keep its visitors in a state of disbelief.”
The bunk article says: “Latasha Brown accepted a friendly online challenge invite from her best friend via Facebook the challenge is to toss a bucket of ice cold water over your body. Latashs Brown died from hypothermia 30 seconds later her frozen body was rushed the the hospital where coroner Will Jackson declared her death.”
Meanwhile, the photo used by Huzlers shows a woman getting her head covered in ice and cold water. That photo is of a woman named Sandra Robinson and was sourced from a Mississippi-based publication, the Natchez Democrat, about a month ago.
About a week ago, a New Zealand father, Willis Tepania, died after taking the “ice challenge,” according to the New Zealand Herald.
Tepania, 40, suffered a heart attack after he took the “ice challenge” and drank about a liter of bourbon whiskey, sources told the Herald.
A relative told the Herald: “Alcohol has nothing to do with the ice challenge. Just basically think before you act, because one mistake and your life could be gone. All for what, a bottle of alcohol?”
Original AP
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