We all make youthful mistakes, as growing up involves learning when to say no to risky endeavors. Even the brightest kids can succumb to peer pressure and engage in dangerous stunts. Just ask the parents of Tyler Broome, an 11-year-old who decided to partake in the perilous YouTube trend known as the ’roundabout of death,’ resulting in severe injuries.

While the name may give it away, for Tyler, it wasn’t merely a reckless prank – he saw it as an opportunity to impress his friends with his bravery. Unfortunately, the extreme gravitational forces he experienced during this trend caused injuries similar to those seen in fighter pilots.

In this ’roundabout of death’ craze, participants sit at the center of a playground roundabout while the rear wheel of a motorcycle rapidly spins it. Shortly after this incident, Tyler was found unconscious near the roundabout, potentially suffering from brain and vision damage due to G-forces typically only encountered by astronauts and pilots.

Tyler and a friend had been in a nearby park when they were approached by older kids who challenged them to join in the game. Tyler’s mother, Dawn, expressed her concern, stating, ‘I don’t recognize my child – he’s on the brink of a stroke. Tyler sat on the roundabout, and the older boy who approached him was around 17. Tyler doesn’t know him; they aren’t friends. He placed his motorbike on the ground and spun the roundabout at such a high speed. Afterward, the group just left – it’s bullying.’

Dawn claimed that hospital staff had to conduct research before treating her son, as they had never seen such injuries before. She said, ‘The injuries were so severe that he looked like the Elephant Man. They’ve never encountered anything like it, and they will be making a medical report about it. His head has swelled completely, his blood vessels have burst, his eyes appear alien, and his vision is blurred. You can handle a broken arm, but this? He doesn’t remember it, he can’t recall the details.’

Parents should remember that children are prone to trying things we as adults would steer clear of. Our hearts and prayers go out to Tyler and his family. Share this story to raise awareness about the dangers of this highly risky game.