It was supposed to be a playful act possibly intended for social media posting.
Fifty-four year old-year old farmer Samsun Pinto appeared to be enjoying his “suicide by hanging” joke in front of his audience made up of minors who were taking videos under a tree in Barangay San Vicente, Alcala, Pangasinan at noon on Monday.
But on his third try, the noose that he made from his rope accidentally tightened and eventually suffocated him to death.
Local investigators said the minors thought that the scenario of Pinto panicking to loosen the rope while gasping for breath was part of the “show” but the laughter turned into a horrible scene for them.
A report reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City said local residents immediately rushed to the area to help him but it was too late.
Pinto was taken to a nearby clinic where he was declared dead.
Mental health experts have been advising the public, particularly those active in social media, not to joke about suicide amid the stress and depression brought by the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. (With a report from Liezle Basa Inigo)