this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2025
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A 14-year-old Brazilian boy died after injecting himself with butterfly remains — with police investigating whether it was part of a twisted online challenge, according to a report.

Davi Nunes Moreira started to vomit and then developed a limp after mixing a dead butterfly in water and injecting the liquid into his leg, according to the DailyMail.

The teen told his dad he hurt himself while playing — but then confessed what really happened when he continued growing sicker and was admitted to a hospital in Planalto, the report said.

His dad also found the syringe his son had used hidden under the boy’s pillow, according to the report.

Davi was rushed to another hospital in Vitoria de Conquista, the state of Bahia’s third-largest city, on Wednesday, but succumbed to his injuries.

The mysterious death — linked to possible toxins in the butterfly mix that caused his body to shut down as he went into septic shock — is making headlines across Brazil.

...

However, authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the boy was participating in an unusual social media craze that proved fatal, the report said.

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[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 5 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I wouldn't have been able to gain access to a syringe at that age

Syringes I could get, I used them all the time for applying glue. It's needles that weren't easy to come by.

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 9 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

I'm always torn as to what to think when I read stories like this. I'm all for stupid people removing themselves from the gene pool, but at what age does it become suitable to declare a Darwin Award as opposed to a tragedy involving a kid too young to know better?

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 5 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

I learned from high school biology class around that age that injecting random shit into your blood isn't a good idea when I asked "what would happen if you just injected air in someone" and got the answer "they would die from an embolism."

[–] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago

I mean, I was 14 once, and I have 0 butterflies in my bloodstream. I'd say that should be old enough to know better..

[–] JokeDeity@lemm.ee 5 points 5 hours ago

My personal opinion is that a 14 year old should know not to inject things into their veins because it's dangerous.

[–] 2ugly2live@lemmy.world 12 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)
[–] Hux@lemmy.ml 23 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

This sounds like someone asked ChatGPT to come up with a headline to scare anxious moms.

“BILLY, ARE YOU INJECTING YOURSELF WITH DEAD BUTTERFLY REMAINS??? IS THIS WHY YOU DROPPED OUT OF MARCHING BAND—TO CHASE THE MONARCH DRAGON WITH YOUR XBOX FRIENDS?!?!?”

“OH DARYL, I THINK OUR LITTLE BILLY IS FREEBASING BLUE MORPHOS AFTER SCHOOL AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE IS TURNING TRICKS ON THE STREET TO BLAST HIS SKAGS ON BANANA SLUGS LACED WITH POWDERED MEXICAN EARWIG DUST?!?!?”

“ITS ALL MY FAULT, I NEVER SHOULD HAVE LET HIM WATCH ANT-MAN!”

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 8 points 14 hours ago

"CABBAGE WHITES TURNED MY SON INTO A CABBAGE"

[–] SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml 8 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

I didn't realize butterflies contained toxins. I thought you could eat most bugs

[–] GroundedGator@lemmy.world 12 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

They did say toxins in the butterfly mix and I think it is unlikely that a 14yo would be grabbing distilled or RO water for his secret experiment. Not saying it wasn't something to do with the butterfly, but the water alone may have been enough.

[–] SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 hours ago

You're right, iirc tap water does contain bacteria, except that it's bacteria our stomach has no trouble killing

[–] Decq@lemmy.world 30 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Eating and directly injecting in your bloodstream are not the same thing

[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 9 points 12 hours ago

I inject bread and am never hungy.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 10 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

They can do depending on what they eat - the article mentions that one possible suspect data milkweed. This isn't uncommon - a lot of daytime moths, like the Cinnabar and 5 Spot Burnett, eat ragwort almost exclusively which is so hepatotoxic that you have to clear it away from field edges if you have horses. It is a good tactic as it makes them unpleasant to eat and their black and red markings are clear danger warnings.

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 7 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Yes and monarch butterflies eat milkweed which makes them toxic to eat. I think a lot of butterflies’ vibrant coloured markings are honest warning signals.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 13 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

Back in my day it was smoking banana peels or drinking ground nutmeg in milk (no don't bother trying) and all I got was some unpleasant burps.

[–] Manifish_Destiny@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago

That's Malcolm x tea.

Helps with withdrawals

[–] DeathsEmbrace@lemm.ee 9 points 14 hours ago

Now it’s the torch your dick in kerosine challenge?

[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 3 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

We used to smoke cinnamon sticks. Good times.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

That sounds unpleasant but at least whatever you cough up will taste nice.

[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 3 points 10 hours ago

Well, it tasted of cinnamon, at least.