Suicide game hits Roodepoort
The name of the game is allegedly derived from the fact that blue whales often beach themselves, thus committing suicide.
In May, when the Record reported on the Blue Whale suicide game, experts predicted it would reach South Africa’s shores within three months.
Not only has it reached the country – it’s reached Roodepoort as well. Two cases have been reported in Roodepoort and one in Bronkhorstspruit with the mother of the boy taking to Facebook with a photo of welts around his neck allegedly caused by strangling himself. No suicides have been reported though. No cases have been opened but Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi has confirmed to the Record that they are “looking into it” after receiving an enquiry from a member of the public.
Also Read: Must read: Will sinister suicide game hit SA shores next?
Worldwide, 130 suicides linked to the game have been reported, and in May the creator of the game, which can be downloaded as an app, 21-year-old Russian, Philipp Budeikin, was arrested. Budeiken, a psychology student, allegedly wanted “to purge society of the weak by making them commit suicide”.
The game works as follows: An ‘administrator’ or ‘mentor’ gives the player a task every day for 50 days, with the final task being committing suicide. Tasks include self-mutilation, watching horror movies, standing on the edge of the roof of a dangerously high building and listening to music the ‘administrator’ sends the player. The player must take a photo of every completed task to prove to the administrator that it has been completed.
The name of the game is allegedly derived from the fact that blue whales often beach themselves, thus committing suicide.
Here is a full list of the tasks, which may vary:
1. Carve ‘f57’ on your hand with a razor and send a photo to the curator.
2. Wake up at 4.20am and watch the psychedelic, scary videos the curator sends you.
3. Cut your arm with a razor along your veins, but not too deep – only three cuts. Send a photo to the curator.
4. Draw a whale on a sheet of paper, send a photo to the curator.
5. If you are ready to ‘become a whale’, carve ‘YES’ on your leg. If not, cut yourself many times (punish yourself).
6. Task with a cipher.
7. Carve ‘f40’ on your hand, and send a photo to the curator.
8. Type ‘#i_am_whale’ in your VKontakte status.
9. You have to overcome your fear.
10. Wake up at 4.20am and go onto a roof (the higher the better).
11. Carve a whale on your hand with a razor, and send a photo to the curator.
12. Watch psychedelic and horror videos all day.
13. Listen to music ‘they’ (the curators) send you.
14. Cut your lip.
15. Poke your hand with a needle many times
16. Do something painful to yourself, make yourself sick.
17. Go to the highest roof you can find, stand on the edge for some time.
18. Go to a bridge, stand on the edge.
19. Climb up a crane, or at least try to do it
20. The curator checks if you are trustworthy.
21. Have a talk ‘with a whale’ (another player like you or a curator) on Skype.
22. Go to a roof and sit on the edge with your legs dangling.
23. Another task with a cipher.
24. Secret task.
25. Have a meeting with a ‘whale’.
26. The curator tells you the date of your death and you have to accept it.
27. Wake up at 4.20am and go to any railroad you can find.
28. Don’t talk to anyone all day.
29. Make a vow that ‘you’re a whale’.
30–49. Every day you wake up at 4.20am, watch horror videos, listen to music ‘they’ send you, make one cut on your body per day, and talk ‘to a whale’.
50. Jump off a high building. Take your life.
The Record is currently awaiting comment from cyber investigator, and expert, Jacques van Heerden.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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