Spanish authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a 37-year-old streamer, believed to be the country's first fatal incident linked to an extreme online challenge. Sergio Jimenez was found dead in his home after reportedly agreeing to consume a bottle of whisky and six grams of cocaine within three hours for viewers who paid to watch.
A Tragic Discovery on New Year's Eve
Sergio Jimenez was discovered in the early hours of December 31st in a kneeling, prayer-like position on his bed by his younger brother. The grim find was made at the family home in Vilanova i la Geltru, near Barcelona, which he shared with his mother. His webcam was reportedly still broadcasting, and family members claim they heard followers' voices through the computer as they tried to help him, with some asking if he was 'sleeping off a hangover'.
The scene described by his brother, Daniel, was harrowing. He reported finding an almost empty whisky bottle, energy drink cans, and a pile of cocaine on a red plate. Sergio was kneeling on the floor with his head resting on the mattress. Their mother, Teresa, had earlier pleaded with her son not to drink alcohol due to psychiatric medication he was taking, but her warnings went unheeded.
Police Probe into 'Incitement to Risky Behaviour'
The Mossos d'Esquadra, the regional police force for Catalonia, confirmed they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. A spokesman stated they are awaiting full autopsy results but are examining the context to determine if any crime occurred. Notably, they have not ruled out expanding the inquiry to establish whether anyone could be held criminally accountable for possible 'incitement to risky behaviour'.
This case raises profound questions about accountability in the shadowy world of paid-for extreme content. Spanish media reports suggest Sergio was broadcasting to a private group where followers donated money to demand specific challenges. The incident echoes the death of French influencer Raphael Graven last August, who died after 10 days of filmed physical violence.
The Dangerous World of Extreme Content
Sergio is said to have been imitating Simon Perez, a well-known Spanish 'e-beggar' who lives off cash gifts for performing offbeat, often drug-fuelled online challenges. Perez, reacting to the death in a YouTube video, claimed Sergio had taken a 'two-gram line' of cocaine, stating 'that causes an overdose'. While insisting his conscience was clean, Perez acknowledged, 'It could have happened to me but it's happened to Sergio.'
This tragic event underscores the lethal risks of an unregulated online ecosystem where financial incentives drive increasingly dangerous acts. As police continue their probe, focusing on whether viewers or platform facilitators bear any responsibility, it marks a potential watershed moment for regulating extreme digital content in Spain and beyond.
