Finnish police are investigating a suspected criminal offence after a teenage boy died when he fell from a radio and television mast in Teisko, near the city of Tampere, while filming content linked to a social media challenge.
The fatal incident occurred on December 20, when three boys under the age of 18 unlawfully accessed the mast using maintenance ladders. According to investigators, the group climbed the structure to record videos for a TikTok challenge. During the descent, the boy positioned highest on the ladder lost his grip and fell to the ground, where he was later found dead.
Police said the climb and descent were recorded on mobile phones and cameras carried by the boys, but the activity was not livestreamed. Officers noted that the incident could have resulted in additional fatalities, as the falling teenager narrowly missed the two others positioned below him.
The mast, which rises more than 300 metres, is owned by Digita, a company that operates radio and television transmission infrastructure across Finland. The site is classified as restricted, and access without authorization is prohibited.
Based on preliminary findings, police suspect the boys of breaching public order by entering a restricted area. Under Finnish law, such an offence can carry a fine or a prison sentence of up to six months. Authorities emphasized that accessibility does not equate to permission and warned of the severe dangers posed by high-altitude structures.
Police described the case as part of a growing and alarming trend involving illegal and hazardous online challenges, particularly among young people. Parents were urged to discuss the risks and legal consequences of such activities with their children.
Digita also issued a warning, stating that unauthorized climbing of radio masts poses extreme risks, including falls, sudden weather changes, physical strain, and exposure to strong radiation. The company cautioned that some effects of radiation exposure may not become apparent until years later.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
