Influencer plunges from bridge to his death in ‘social media stunt’

A British influencer has died in a social media stunt after falling up to 50 metres from a bridge.

A British influencer has died in a social media stunt after falling up to 50 metres from a bridge where climbing is “totally banned”.

The 26-year-old is said to have tried to climb the bridge Puente de Castilla-La Mancha in Spain – one of the country’s tallest, The Sun reports.

A spokesman for National Police said the daredevil was climbing up the bridge near Talavera de la Reina on Sunday, when the social media stunt went awry.

“He was about 40 to 50 metres up, around a quarter of the total height of the bridge, when he fell,” the spokesman said.

“The reason he fell is not clear and will be investigated by a local court.”

Puente de Castilla-La Mancha is a cable-stayed bridge that rises over the Tagus River, in the Spanish city of Talavera de la Reina. Picture: istock

A source close to the investigation said: “Both the dead man and the companion that survived were climbing without any harnesses or other protection.”

A passing motorist reportedly raised the alarm.

“The other lad was in a state of shock initially and couldn’t even speak. He’s obviously still pretty traumatised but is not at the police station any longer,” the source said.

“He’s not going to be charged with any crime. Whether the local town hall decides to sanction him for doing something illegal is a decision for them.”

Local councillor Macarena Munoz confirmed the tragedy and said climbing the bridge was “totally banned”.

She said: “We have made it clear on several occasions that it’s not something that can be done in any circumstances.”

A 26-year-old Brit fell to his death from the bridge. Picture: Alamy

The bridge stands over the Tagus River, 90 minutes southwest of Madrid.

The influencer is said to have been with an unnamed 24-year-old British man when he plunged to his death.

Footage from the scene of the tragedy, which happened at about 7.15am, showed police cordoning off the area near to where he fell.

National Police as well as local town-hall employed firefighters rushed to the scene with paramedics but there was nothing they could to save the Brit.

Investigators are expected to look into the possibility bad weather played a part in what happened as it is thought to have rained heavily before the tragedy.

Spanish police said they would not name the dead Brit.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission