Sergio Jimenez: Man dies during livestream, viewers ‘paid him to drink whisky, snort cocaine’
A man has died during a livestream where he was paid by viewers to skull a bottle of whisky and snort six grams of cocaine.
Sergio Jimenez, 37, was found dead by his brother at a home in Vilanova i la Geltru home near Barcelona.
Teresa, Mr Jimenez’s mother, discovered him in a kneeling position beside his bed while his webcam continued streaming to viewers at about 2am on December 31.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.As his family walked into the devastating scene and tried to get help for Mr Jimenez, they could hear some of the viewers talking.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the 37-year-old’s death in what could be Spain’s first fatality connected to a paid online challenge, El Periodico reported.
“Jordi, my eldest son, who lives in the Pyrenees, warned us a couple of months ago Sergio was making these kinds of videos,” Teresa said.
She said on the night he died, she had tried to go into his bedroom, but something was blocking the door.
“I kept asking him from outside but he didn’t answer. I could see him kneeling on the bed, as if he were praying.”
Teresa’s other son Daniel confirmed his brother was dead before the family called emergency services.
“There was an almost empty bottle of whisky, a couple of cans of energy drinks and a pile of cocaine on a red plate,” Daniel said.
“My brother was kneeling on the floor, his head resting on the mattress.
“The computer was on and I could hear voices asking him if he was sleeping off his hangover.”
Teresa said she had spotted the whisky bottle in the hours before she found Mr Jimenez, and had warned him not to drink because of the medication he was taking.
Local media are reporting Mr Jimenez was streaming to a private group, with viewers providing money in exchange for him completing challenges.
This behaviour is said to mirror that of Simon Perez, a former mortgage guru who was disgraced and now lives off online donations in exchange for recorded stunts.
No charges have been laid. Local police have not ruled out investigating if anyone could be criminally responsible for Mr Jimenez’s death.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.
