A BIZARRE craze where people pretend to be planks of wood claimed its first victim today - after a man fell seven storeys to his death.
Tragic ... 'planker' Acton Beale
Tragic ... 'planker' Acton Beale
Acton Beale, 20, plummeted from a seventh floor balcony at a block of flats in Brisbane, Australia, after an evening out "planking" with a pal.
The new craze sees participants lie face-down on objects with their arms by their sides while someone else takes their picture.
It is thought Acton fell suddenly as he tried to lay on the balcony railing of his apartment at 4am. His pal may have been filming the event.
Paramedics rushed to the scene were unable to save Acton.
Queensland police issued a statement on Sunday in which they urged "plankers" to "re-think their actions" following the death.
Deputy Commissioner Ross Barnett said: "Police fear that as planking gains popularity there may be more injuries and potentially further deaths.
"The potential for disaster increases as more and more risks are taken to get the ultimate photo."
The prank has become an internet sensation since participants started sharing photos of their antics online, sometimes in terrifying settings.
A Facebook page called Planking Australia has more than 55,000 fans who have been posting photos of planking in usual places including on top of a McDonald's sign and railway tracks.
But people are trying to out-do each other by planking on structures or in precarious positions putting themselves and others at risk.
Australian man Nate Shaw, 20, was last week charged after police saw a photo of him planking over a police car.
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