Three adventurous YouTube stars have fallen to their death while visiting a Canadian waterfall earlier this week.
The trio, consisting of Ryker Gamble, Alexey Lyakh and Megan Scraper, were swimming at Shannon Falls in British Columbia, Canada before Scraper climbed to a ledge along the falls. From the ledge, she reportedly slipped and fell more than 100 feet down the rocky terrain. Gamble and Lyakh were then swept away when they rushed to assist her.
According to authorities, the treacherous terrain at the falls slowed the efforts to recover their bodies.
Gamble, Lyakh and Scraper have gained their share of fame-and notoriety-as members of a daredevil YouTube video channel, High on Life, which posts videos to YouTube to "inspire our viewers to get out and explore the world."
While the mission itself is seemingly benign, the channel features a significant amount of daredevil content with such titles as "Epic Cliff Jumping and Waterfall Slide (EXTREME DANGER)" and "World's SCARIEST Rope Swing!!"
In 2016, Gamble and Lyakh and another "High on Life" member found themselves in trouble after they posted footage on social media of them wandering off the boardwalk at Yellowstone National Park. After an investigation, which was supported by High on Life's own social media posts, the group was found guilty of violating the regulations at four national parks and they were banned from federal lands for five years.
After their death, High on Life posted a video memorializing their friends on their social media channels. On YouTube alone, the video has already garnered more than 1 million views.
Comments to the video have raised their own controversy. While most of the comments are from well-wishers or friends, a growing number are also questioning the senselessness of the trio's death and the group's daredevil antics.
"'Get out of your comfort zone' ..seriously, that's your message after your three friends die?? How about 'don't take unnecessary risk's because life is precious?' And how about your group disband and stop breaking the law and putting your lives in danger??!," wrote Cathrine Ann Joncas on a Facebook comment.
High on Life has started a $50,000 GoFundMe campaign, although it is unclear how exactly the funds will be used. The GoFundMe page says they will "cover the costs of the Celebration of Life that will commemorate all three of these beautiful lives."
Funds raised will also go towards a "Legacy Fund" which "will be established to support causes that align with the values and aspirations of Ryker, Alexey and Megan-empowering others to pursue their passions and dreams, and to live life to the fullest." As of press time, the GoFundMe page has raised $9,826 of its $50,000 goal.
Although it has not yet been determined whether Scraper was filming at the time of her death, there has been a global uptick in ultra-adventurous travelers losing their life when attempting high-risk poses in search of the perfect selfie.
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