Three individuals lost their lives at a party hosted by an Instagram influencer in Moscow, Russia. The incident occurred when partygoers jumped into a swimming pool filled with dry ice, intended to create a visual effect.
Yekaterina Didenko, the Instagram influencer, was celebrating her 29th birthday at an indoor pool complex. During the celebration, 55lbs of dry ice was poured into the pool in an attempt to produce a visual spectacle.
Unfortunately, the use of dry ice in an enclosed space can lead to the displacement of oxygen, posing fatal consequences. Dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide, can be non-toxic in small quantities, but in poorly-ventilated areas, it can become hazardous.
As individuals inhale carbon dioxide instead of oxygen, they may experience symptoms such as rapid heart rate, clumsiness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. If physical exertion is involved, symptoms may progress rapidly, potentially leading to collapse, convulsions, coma, and even death.
A video of the ill-fated stunt was circulated online, depicting partygoers unknowingly risking their lives by jumping into the poisonous pool. Tragically, the influencer’s 32-year-old husband, Valentin Didenko, was among those who succumbed to the hazardous situation.
The video captured the moment when party attendees, clad in white coveralls and goggles, poured the dry ice into the pool, creating a thick white vapor on the water’s surface. Despite the initial signs of distress from the first person entering the pool, others continued to jump in, oblivious to the danger.
Yekaterina Didenko, a qualified pharmacist and a mother of two, shares money-saving tips on medicine with her 1.5 million Instagram followers. She later informed her followers about her husband being rushed to the hospital as a result of the incident.
Following the incident, several partygoers were hospitalized, and unfortunately, three individuals lost their lives. The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal investigation into the matter.
Below is the video of the incident.