Selfies cause more deaths than shark attacks

PTI WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 23 More people around the world have died while taking selfies than from shark attacks this year, according to media reports.In 2015 so far, at least 12 people have been killed in selfie-related incidents worldwide compared to eight from shark attacks. Recently, a 66-year-old Japanese tourist died, and his travel companion was injured, after falling down the stairs while attempting to take a selfie at the Taj Mahal. Four of the selfie deaths this year, like the Japanese tourist, were caused by falling. The next leading cause of deaths involving selfies was being hit or injured by trains, either because the individual was trying to get a photo with a train or because the photo they wanted involved getting on dangerous equipment, ‘Mashable’ reported. Earlier this month, a 19-year-old boy in the US died after accidentally shooting himself in the throat while taking selfies with a loaded gun. In contrast, 74 unprovoked shark attacks have occurred this year, by the Global Shark Attack File’s count, eight of which were fatal.