The death of Sergio Jiménez Ramos has become the first recorded case in Spain of a person dying live while performing an internet challenge. His brother, Dani, found him motionless in the room with the webcam on and online users still watching the scene. A nearly empty bottle of whisky and a considerable amount of cocaine were found on the table.
“"They are scum who take advantage of others. They paid him cocaine and whisky to kill himself."
According to the family's account, the online observers allegedly paid for the bottle of whisky and six grams of cocaine for Sergio to consume them in less than three hours. The victim, who was undergoing psychiatric treatment and struggled with drug dependency, had been performing these videos for months, a practice known as “digital beggary.”
The deceased's circle points to economist Simón Pérez Golarons, also a resident of Vilanova i la Geltrú, as the person who introduced Sergio to this type of self-destructive challenge. Pérez Golarons confirmed the death on his YouTube channel, stating that the victim "took six grams in three hours."
This phenomenon of exploiting vulnerable people in exchange for donations is not exclusive to Spain. Last August, the streamer Raphaël Graven Pormanove died in França after 12 days of abuse broadcast live on the Kick platform.
