Believe it or not, deaths caused by selfies are very real. A study by the National Institute of Health in 2018 revealed that between 2011 and 2017, 259 people lost their lives while taking selfies. This grim statistic nearly increased over the Easter weekend when a travel influencer had a terrifying brush with death in Bali.
Katy Johnson, a social media personality, was filming herself at a well-known tourist destination called Angel’s Billabong, located on the island of Nusa Penida. The spot is famous for its picturesque cliff formations and natural rock pools—but it’s also known for being extremely dangerous. As Johnson posed for a video, a rogue wave suddenly struck, dragging her off the viewing area and nearly pulling her into the sea.
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Thankfully, she survived. But her recount of the event paints a vivid picture of just how close she came to tragedy.
“Easter Sunday in Bali really said, ‘You wanna meet Jesus today?’ Because I almost did,” she wrote, describing how the wave slammed into her with such force it felt personal. “It almost swept me off into the next life. Not the baptism I expected!”
What began as a peaceful moment quickly turned terrifying. At first, Johnson laughed off the incident—once she recovered from the shock—but the gravity of the situation hit her later. She learned that several tourists had actually lost their lives at Angel’s Billabong, which left her deeply shaken.
This isn’t an isolated incident. The same location claimed a life last year when a 59-year-old man named Nilesh Mukhi was swept away while taking family photos. His wife was also pulled into the ocean but was fortunately rescued. Tragically, Mukhi’s body was discovered the next day nearly 12 miles from the spot.
Angel’s Billabong has gained a dark reputation due to repeated accidents and deaths, earning it a nickname among some as “cursed.” Its rise to fame has coincided with the explosion of Instagram, drawing more and more visitors eager for the perfect shot—often at the cost of their safety.
The message is clear: know your limits and never underestimate the power of nature.
In another coastal spectacle, back on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, a dramatic transformation unfolded at the Waimea Bay river wave. Normally, this surf spot appears when locals dig a path between the river and the ocean. But this time, authorities used a huge tractor to carve out the river mouth, triggering an exciting series of river waves.
The scene was captured in a video where one surfer exclaimed with excitement as the river burst through to the ocean, unleashing the wave. Crowds gathered, and surfers jumped in to catch the fleeting waves, enjoying what turned into a daytime surf celebration. Compared to past dangerous sessions, including one where a famous surfer nearly drowned, this instance was more playful than perilous.
By the end of the day, the beach had been drastically altered by the flowing water, but the joy and thrill of catching those rare waves left everyone on a high.
Both stories serve as strong reminders of the ocean’s dual nature: breathtaking beauty and unpredictable danger. Whether you’re chasing content or waves, one thing remains the same—respect for nature is non-negotiable.