Tourist Dies After Fall During Selfie Attempt at Taj Mahal

Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 9:00 PM ET, Fri September 18, 2015

A Japanese tourist was killed after falling down a staircase at India's Taj Mahal Thursday.

Citing an eyewitness account, the BBC reported that the man was seen taking a selfie at the mausoleum's Royal Gate when he slipped and fell.

Authorities said the man, identified as 66-year-old H Ueda via the Times of India, lost consciousness immediately after the fall and was later pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.

Ueda was accompanied by three other people, one of which also fell down the stairs, sustaining a fractured leg in the process.

Officials informed he Japanese embassy of the death and an investigation into the incident has since been launched.

While undoubtedly tragic, injuries and deaths stemming from selfie attempts have increased of late. The rise in incidents even inspired the Russian government to launch a campaign urging people to avoid the act in risky situations.

As recently as last month a man was fatally gored by a bull while taking a selfie during a bull running festival in Spain.

Selfie sticks, devices used to allow travelers to take more unique selfies, have also been mired in controversy, with many museums and art galleries banning them. Over the summer, park workers at Disney California Adventure actually shut down a ride early because a passenger was using a selfie stick.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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