Planking craze suffers its first death in Australia

May 16, 2011, 10:43 by R.E. Christian

An apparent Internet stunt resulted in an Australian man falling to his death from an apartment balcony Sunday, Brisbane police said.

Acton Beal, 20, was apparently attempting a "planking" in which he lay face down on the balcony railing when he lost his balance and plunged seven stories to the street.

Planking involves a person lying face down in an unusual place. Photos of such poses have become a popular phenomenon on social media sites, the Brisbane Times said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Ross Barnett told the Times the growing popularity of planking had police worried that someone would get hurt. "It is what we've been fearing."

Source: UPI