A 14-year-old boy tragically lost his life after allegedly ‘injecting himself with a butterfly’ as part of an ‘online challenge.’
Davi Nunes Moreira, from Planalto, Brazil, reportedly endured a painful seven-day battle in the hospital before passing away.
Initially, the teenager told his father that he had sustained an injury while playing.
However, as his condition deteriorated, the boy reportedly confessed to what had actually happened.
Despite receiving specialized medical care, Davi’s health continued to decline, and doctors were unable to save him.
The official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, but the Civil Police of Bahia have opened an investigation into the incident.
A spokesperson stated, “The autopsy results will provide further clarity on the cause of death.”
“The investigation aims to clarify the events that took place.”
According to local reports, the teenager injected a liquid derived from a crushed butterfly into his leg as part of a social media challenge.
Shortly after, he allegedly began vomiting and developed a limp.
Davi reportedly confessed to the injection after being hospitalized.
He told medical staff that he had purchased supplies from a pharmacy, mixed a dead butterfly with water, and injected the solution into his leg.
Davi’s father allegedly discovered the syringe his son had used tucked beneath his pillow while cleaning the house.
Dr. Luiz Fernando D. Relvas informed news outlet VivaBem that the teen’s passing might have resulted from “an embolism, an infection, or an allergic reaction.”
“We have no details on how he prepared the substance or the size of the particles he injected into his body,” the doctor explained.
“There’s also a chance air was present, which could have triggered an embolism.”
Authorities are now investigating whether Davi suffered septic shock, as the toxins from the injection may have caused his system to shut down.
Professor Marcelo Duarte, director of São Paulo University’s Zoology Museum and a butterfly expert, stated (via MailOnline): “Butterflies have a complex biology, and the fluids in their bodies have not been extensively studied for their potential toxicity to humans.”
Some Brazilian media outlets have speculated that Davi may have been influenced by an experiment he saw online. However, the teenager reportedly denied this claim before his passing.