Almost everyone carries their cell phones at all times, and many people always keep headphones with them as well.
However, headphones and other cell phone accessories can be very dangerous in some situations. When 16-year-old Bradley Willoughby went motorbiking, he wore a helmet and used all the proper safety gear, but his headphones put his life in danger.
When he landed awkwardly after a jump, the throttle of the bike got stuck. This caused him to fly into a barbed wire fence on the edge of his parents’ farm. He broke his ankle and cut his stomach, but his worst injury came from the headphones.
The barbed wire from the fence pulled off the rubber coating on the headphones, exposing the strong copper wires underneath. The ear buds were securely placed in Bradley’s ears, so the copper wire pressed into his neck as he hit the fence, and the pressure was almost enough to decapitate him. Luckily, his family saw what happened and rushed to his aid.
As they waited for an ambulance, his father removed the wires from his throat. His trachea was unharmed, so he was still able to breathe.
At the hospital, Bradley received operations on his neck and his leg. His recovery will probably take a long time, but he should be okay. Even though he was a cautious driver and an experienced motorbiker, he almost died because of one seemingly harmless object.
You should never wear wired headphones or earbuds under a helmet while motorbiking or participating in a similar sport.
