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A teenager from Utah recently faced a life-threatening ordeal after engaging in a perilous TikTok challenge dubbed “couch surfing.” This incident, which occurred earlier this month, left him with severe injuries, as detailed in a report.
Sixteen-year-old Levi Teemant ended up in a medically induced coma following a disastrous attempt at the viral challenge. He suffered a fractured skull, traumatic brain injuries, and other critical wounds, his family shared with KSL.
“It’s incredibly difficult to witness my dear son in such a condition,” expressed the teen’s mother, Amy Teemant, to the news outlet.
For more than 12 days, she noted, he showed no signs of movement or blinking.
The risky activity of couch surfing involves dragging a couch behind a vehicle, often in a parking area, with someone either sitting or standing on the couch while the driver maneuvers at high speeds with sudden turns.
The activity is currently gaining popularity in Utah.
Levi, a student at Timpview High School, was initially skeptical of the trend but it ultimately led to his hospitalization at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
He also suffered spinal fractures, broken ribs and facial fractures from the stunt gone wrong.
“He told me he was so proud that he didn’t do it,” Amy said.
Levi changed his mind on May 8.
“Since he saw all of his friends do it and they walked away safe, he must’ve thought it was OK,” Amy continued.
“The first time he makes that choice, he sits on that couch, and the couch leg breaks, and he goes flying, and it’s a horrible, horrible accident.”
Similar trends include “table surfing,” which is the same trend, just with a table instead of a couch.
TikTok has placed warnings on searches related to “table surfing” telling users that the challenge can be harmful. Activities like couch surfing violate TikTok’s community guidelines.
Videos involving both trends are more readily available on Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
Levi’s case was not an isolated incident; doctors told Amy that this was not the first injury as a result of couch surfing this year.
“They told us this is the third case they’ve seen of couch surfing here at Primary Children’s (this year),” she said.
Amy hopes to prevent more injuries as a result of couch surfing in the future.
“This terrible thing happened and it’s one more thing to talk to your kids about,” she said.
“Be aware that this is an awful trend and it’s a terrible idea.”