Daredevil instagram star dies train surfing in New York
Oct 7, 2016
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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“Live fast, die young, and leave a good looking Instagram account” seems to be the mantra these days. The trend of doing whatever it takes to get the shot with little thought for personal safety has risen tremendously over the last couple of years. One such person was photographer Christopher Serrano, who died on Wednesday while attempting to “train surf”. Serrano also went by the name HeavyMinds on Instagram where he has over 107,000 followers.
The New York Post reports that he had been riding the F Train in Brooklyn with a female friend around 5am. He went between two of the subway cars, where he began to scale the outside of the train. Investigators told NYP that Serrano may have been clipped by something while on the outside of the train. Police found Serrano lying dead on the track.
If something like train surfing weren’t a big enough risk already, it is believed that Serrano was intoxicated at the time of his escapade.
I get it, I really do. We all want to get those amazing shots that nobody else can get. We all want to push ourselves to be the best. But is it really worth losing your life over? Obviously, nobody can expect to live their life risk free. But, doesn’t common sense tell us to minimise those risks?
It’s a sad loss for the photography world. His work was pretty good, and who knows what he may have otherwise gone on to create in the future. It’s sad for his friends and family who are left behind, too.
Photographers, instagrammers, vloggers, please stop risking your lives for photographs. Even if you don’t care about your own life, the family and friends you leave behind do.
[via FStoppers]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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8 responses to “Daredevil instagram star dies train surfing in New York”
It’s tragic, but who didn’t see it coming..
Like you, the media is to blame for showcasing his dangerous stunts and making him a so-called “star.”
He knew what he was doing. He was ok to die like this. Nevertheless, media that promoted his dangerous lifestyle is to blame for his death. Everyone who published, liked, subscribed or reblogged his suicidal acts while he was alive is responsible for his death. Go look at what you’ve done.
Don’t blame the followers. I climbed a construction crane drunk during a rain storm once in my youth before Instagram even existed. He made his choice, and I respect it, even if it ended in tragedy.
I’d like to congratulate this ‘Instagram Star’ for winning his first and last Darwin Award.
No need to show any of his shots or link his IG page, fame and greed for a price.
I find the irony/symbolism of the location interesting and wonder to what extent it will be his legacy. Clearly the dude F’d up and in the end wound up totally and irreversibly F’d. This leaves me wondering if all future stupidity of a similar nature will simply be noted as “he took a ride on the F train”.
Good. Maybe people will quit trying to kill themselves for a photo.