Russian media reported that on February 1, a 60-year-old man named Yuri Dushechkin suddenly died while livestreaming on YouTube.
The cause of death is believed to be from Yuri drinking 1.5 liters of vodka in one go during the livestream. This was a challenge given by a viewer, and Yuri was promised donations in return for completing it.
Shortly after consuming the large amount of alcohol, the man suddenly collapsed to the ground. The livestream continued, so viewers witnessed his final moments. Many were shocked and confused about what had happened.
Yuri Dushechkin went by the nickname “Grandpa” when interacting with his audience. The shocking livestream aired on a YouTube channel with 25,000 followers owned by his friend Zheka. When reporters contacted Zheka about the incident, he declined to comment.
This tragic event immediately raised warnings about the growing trend of livestream content that crosses ethical lines, with creators risking everything for views and donations. The same YouTube channel also features videos where homeless people are paid to perform violent or dangerous acts.
Back in December 2020, a similarly disturbing incident happened in the Russian YouTube community. Vlogger Stanislav Reshetnikov forced his pregnant girlfriend to stand on a balcony in freezing temperatures below zero wearing only underwear. She later died during the livestream from hypothermia.
In response to public outrage, Russian Senator Alexey Pushkov called for new regulations banning livestream content that includes violence, unethical behavior, or illegal acts.
Source: Business Today
