14-Year-Old Allegedly Dies After Taking Dead Butterfly Injection in Dangerous Viral Challenge

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
February 27, 2025
10 minutes read

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A 14-year-old Brazilian boy, Davi Nunes Moreira, has died after allegedly injecting himself with butterfly remains in what authorities suspect may be linked to an online challenge. The incident, currently under investigation by Bahia police, has raised concerns about the dangers of viral social media trends.

According to reports, Moreira began vomiting and developed a limp before being rushed to a hospital in Planalto. Initially, he told his father he had hurt himself while playing, but as his condition worsened, he confessed to injecting butterfly remains into his right leg.

He was later transferred to a hospital in Vitoria da Conquista, the third-largest city in Bahia, where he succumbed to his injuries. Moreira’s father discovered the syringe used by his son hidden under the boy’s pillow. The type of butterfly involved has not been identified, but experts note that milkweed, which monarch butterflies feed on as caterpillars, contains a poisonous toxin.

Marcelo Duarte, a butterfly specialist and director of Sao Paulo University’s Zoology Museum, stated, “Butterflies have a complex biology, and the fluids present in their bodies have not been studied in depth in terms of their toxicity to humans.” Authorities suspect that toxins in the butterfly remains may have caused septic shock, leading to Moreira’s death, the DailyMail reported.

A spokesman for the Civil Police in Vitoria da Conquista, which is leading the investigation, said the autopsy results would provide clarity on the exact cause of death. This tragic incident is not the first time a viral challenge has gone wrong.

Last year, social media influencer Thammy MC, who has 2 million followers, suffered first- and second-degree burns after participating in an ice challenge. The challenge involved submerging her feet in a mixture of ice and coarse salt for 15 minutes.

She experienced excruciating pain and was warned by doctors that prolonged exposure could have led to thrombosis or tissue death. The death of Moreira has sparked renewed warnings about the risks of participating in dangerous online trends, as authorities urge caution and awareness among young people and their families.