don't make a life threatning BET.

[Accardo]

Gambling is meant for us to have a reason to smile, have fun and be entertained, but some have taken it to the extreme level whereby it becomes a life threatening to them, because they have gone into what they would have apply their patience and sense on, I see no reason why you should borrow to gamble or divert on other people's fund to gamble, if we have a responsible and modest character on how we gamble, we wouldn't think of taking some risk in it, which will eventually turned a threat on us later in life.

Actually, this is not just something which is related to the gambling. I think it is more about the gambling which I will called by truth or dare games.

I have seen multiple news or articles about these types of thing peoples i.e. give dare to jump one building to the another building and something what op mentioned on the op. And there is also many more examples of dare who takes peoples life. I think we should be aware of these dare where the life risk contained and if it is about the bet or gambling then there no way to do these shits.

Many of them are good swimmers that wants to show off to friends and end up drowning as a result of multiple factors, like being on substance. The student may have gotten tired because he was drunk on alcohol or similar products. Considering he accepted to swim across a river at that rate, his choice explains what mood led to the agreement.

[Roseline492]

A 200-level Chemical Engineering student just lost his life for partaking in a bet in an attempt to swim across a river. the condition is that if he is able to swim across the river, he gets about $0.3 which is equivalent to about 300 naira. as a typical Ijaw man,

Imagine how something that is not equivalent to a $1 will kill somebody whom has almost made it through studies, the money cannot even buy anything on the market, actually a lot of people gambles on so many things but river is something that someone should be afraid of because you cannot tell everything beneath the water, if it was organized gambling a boat was supposed to be following from behind so that by the time he gets tired they will rescue him, actually this kind of gambling has the highest risk because you are not only prone to the gambling lost but also live will be a stake, how can someone's live be worth $0.3. Funny enough that tribe is a water tribe that swims more any other tribe within the region.

[bakasabo]

All I can say that people should pay more attention to the risk they are about to take and think ahead. This refers to children mostly and their "I bet you can or cant do something". When I was a kid, we also used to play "I bet you cant swim to next shore" kind of things. We were 5-8 years old and a lake 200m wide, no adults nearby. This was so ridiculous to do when I think about it now. We were not professional swimmers, none of us had any skill or knew what to do if someone starts drowning.

[Dave1]

All I can say that people should pay more attention to the risk they are about to take and think ahead. This refers to children mostly and their "I bet you can or cant do something". When I was a kid, we also used to play "I bet you cant swim to next shore" kind of things. We were 5-8 years old and a lake 200m wide, no adults nearby. This was so ridiculous to do when I think about it now. We were not professional swimmers, none of us had any skill or knew what to do if someone starts drowning.

Yes, I think it's more of the risk here, he might have thought that is going to be easy win for him as he could be a good swimmer that's why he took this bet. But somewhere along the way, disaster struck and this what happens to him, and just like what others say, it's very unfortunate thing to happen.

Maybe he did made a mistakes obviously, but now we can really bring back the time. What we can all do is to learn from this mistakes, and hopefully this will be the last one that we will hear this kind of bets and that everyone should not be pushing their luck here with their lives.

[Y3shot]

A 200-level Chemical Engineering student just lost his life for partaking in a bet in an attempt to swim across a river. the condition is that if he is able to swim across the river, he gets about $0.3 which is equivalent to about 300 naira. as a typical Ijaw man, i understand how this works and usually, during swimming in the creek for fun, a lot of bets goes on ranging from bets on who can last longer under the water to who can swim across certain rivers even with zero safety measures in place.

A river is not a place to bet because it is very risky. During swimming anything can happen and if one wants to bet in swimming exercise it should be in the swimming pool,  if any emergency happens it will be easy to rescue.  Swimming on it own is risky,  it is not like every other sports. In swimming people needs energy and good swimming skills and sometimes one can have a god swimming skills but not having good energy at the moment.  
Bet on swimming in river is as if one is just gambling with life not only money. Their is no perfect swimmer, no matter how good you may think you are in swimming anything can happen.

[Lida93]

Gambling is meant for us to have a reason to smile, have fun and be entertained, but some have taken it to the extreme level whereby it becomes a life threatening to them, because they have gone into what they would have apply their patience and sense on, I see no reason why you should borrow to gamble or divert on other people's fund to gamble, if we have a responsible and modest character on how we gamble, we wouldn't think of taking some risk in it, which will eventually turned a threat on us later in life.

Actually, this is not just something which is related to the gambling. I think it is more about the gambling which I will called by truth or dare games.

I have seen multiple news or articles about these types of thing peoples i.e. give dare to jump one building to the another building and something what op mentioned on the op. And there is also many more examples of dare who takes peoples life. I think we should be aware of these dare where the life risk contained and if it is about the bet or gambling then there no way to do these shits.

Many of them are good swimmers that wants to show off to friends and end up drowning as a result of multiple factors, like being on substance. The student may have gotten tired because he was drunk on alcohol or similar products. Considering he accepted to swim across a river at that rate, his choice explains what mood led to the agreement.

To the extent I know about this ugly incident the bet wasn't just about the money but was a show off by the unfortunate victim to massage his ego among his peers present at the river where they were having a swim. The Bayelsa people in Nigeria are well recognised for their specialty in swimming irrespective of age and if you're been dared as one that can't swim it is as equivalent to demeaning the person. Am unsure the victim was on any substances considering what I have just narrated. He was just a victim of unsafe bet practices just as the op precisely puts it and it's something we all should avoid no matter how daring it gets our life should be treated with utmost importance.

[TopTort777]

How stupid someone could be to risk life for 30 cents. And that guy studied to become chemical engineer. How the hell he even managed to pass exams then? I have never taken a part in a bet where I would risk life or receive pain. That is just stupid. No money would be worth to resist pain. Long story short, but this is another example when people neglect of safety precautions and highest price for that.

I have googled Ekoli Creek and Bayelsa creek, and by pictures found that river is quite fast. Probably underwater stream took him, he got stuck between underwater roots or water grass, and ran out of air...

[YOSHIE]

don't make a life threatning BET.

They should have made a bet like that, the conditions they must be able to swim or bets made must have expertise in that field, they know that swimming is at risk of sinking.

I used to make bets that have challenges like the one in the OP story swimming 50 meters in the sea and back ashore again, we do 5 who quickly he gets The $ 100 prize is a fun challenge for us, but we have to make sure the expert participants in swimming, those who can't swim don't enter.

Likewise with other types of bets, such as catching crabs with empty hands without any tools, even though the risk is bitten, but we managed to do it who is Most caught their crabs who won with the caught crab rewards and $ 50, unprofessional if the bets made without prioritizing the participants of the participants.

[stomachgrowls]

Gambling is meant for us to have a reason to smile, have fun and be entertained, but some have taken it to the extreme level whereby it becomes a life threatening to them, because they have gone into what they would have apply their patience and sense on, I see no reason why you should borrow to gamble or divert on other people's fund to gamble, if we have a responsible and modest character on how we gamble, we wouldn't think of taking some risk in it, which will eventually turned a threat on us later in life.

Actually, this is not just something which is related to the gambling. I think it is more about the gambling which I will called by truth or dare games.

I have seen multiple news or articles about these types of thing peoples i.e. give dare to jump one building to the another building and something what op mentioned on the op. And there is also many more examples of dare who takes peoples life. I think we should be aware of these dare where the life risk contained and if it is about the bet or gambling then there no way to do these shits.

Many of them are good swimmers that wants to show off to friends and end up drowning as a result of multiple factors, like being on substance. The student may have gotten tired because he was drunk on alcohol or similar products. Considering he accepted to swim across a river at that rate, his choice explains what mood led to the agreement.

You would really be having those assumptions that on the moment that kid made out that bet on swimming across the river then you can really think that this might be under the influence of alcohol or some substance on which they do led up into that kind of decision on which no matter where we do look then its not something which is really that worth on doing so. Its indeed a life threatening bet on which its really that common sense that you shouldnt be accepting out these stuffs since its never been that giving out that safety towards yourself. Lets say that he's not really that under influence on any other things and just simply that they are really that hurting out their ego or simply trying out to deal up with their pride and since they do know that they can do it then they would definitely be accepting it out despite of the amount.

Its always best that you should be having that common sense into the actions that you are taking and not really just that simply trying out to do stupid things just to prove yourself that you are much better than them. You would really be ending up on having these kind of decisions just because you are really that trying out to do on what others people been saying on which this involved out some bet but actually the amount isnt worth it but since your ego and pride do tells you that you can do it, then this is the time that you would be having that considerations on trying out to deal on with.

[Marykeller]

What fun will it just be if someone puts their life in line to prove a point about what they wouldn't see too much gain? It doesn't make sense if, at the end of the bet, what was given is small pay as congratulations for the bet won. It would be a stupid act if someone put their life or health at risk for what they don't know will be the exact outcome. The results can go sideways(wrong or right) over what isn't worth it.

In this case of having a life-threatening betting, I don't usually feel pity or give congratulatory remarks on whoever stakes their lives over a bet that isn't worth it.

[bittraffic]

Another Darwin Award. In this day and age, there are loads of cases like this that we hear about through the internet. In this particular case, I’d extend the OP’s advice to not do anything that could put your life at risk (whether it’s bets, selfies, or anything else) and even less so for a lousy bet or to get likes on social media.

What I mean is that if he wins he gets to brag that he is really a good swimmer and maybe he could impress a girl watching them...

I don't know the whole story but I'm sure I have done something like this when I was a kid where I want to impress some girls watching me hang on the monkey bars from one side to the other.

The truth is, when we were younger, we all got a bit closer to risk. It’s such a shame to lose your life over something like that.

Same for that kid. He was just at a disadvantage he discover the river isn't an easy water to cross and cost his life. If he was successful and proved his swimming skills can make it to the other side, his ambitions may just be unlocked and might aim to be a olympic swimmer besides being an engineer.

But then anyway he tried his best. Too bad he left his parents in pain. Losing a son/daughter is one of the worse thing that can happen to a parent.

[sokani]

A 200-level Chemical Engineering student just lost his life for partaking in a bet in an attempt to swim across a river. the condition is that if he is able to swim across the river, he gets about $0.3 which is equivalent to about 300 naira. as a typical Ijaw man, i understand how this works and usually, during swimming in the creek for fun, a lot of bets goes on ranging from bets on who can last longer under the water to who can swim across certain rivers even with zero safety measures in place.

these are all life threatening bets that has taken a lot of lives just in a bid to proving a point that you are a good swimmer or to win the token that is promised to the winner of the bet. its all gambling and this can be really fun if safety measures are in place but without your safety as a gambler, there are bets you should never be a part of. other forms of bets that falls in this category can be betting on who can drink the highest bottle of beer within a stipulated timeframe or even taking some risky ride that is life threatening. life is always going to be more important than any short term fun or the reward that comes with winning these kind of bets.

gamble responsibly and gamble allowing your brain work for you. it's not all bet that are worth it.
SOURCE: Varsity student drowns in Bayelsa creek over N300 bet

This is so sad. It's almost similar to the news I came across about a teenager who injected himself with butterfly resins because he was participating in an online challenge and it cost him his dear life.

We are in an era where people do crazy things whether for fun or money but they forget one important thing, that life is priceless and we've got no spare. So no amount of money should warrant anyone putting his/her life at risk.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

<...> the condition is that if he is able to swim across the river, he gets about $0.3 which is equivalent to about 300 naira.

I wouldn't call that a bet, given how low the amount was. It's simply a silly thing, like many of us did when we were young, which unfortunately went wrong. I remember betting beers or dinners, which in the end never got paid, to do silly things—though luckily, none of them had a tragic outcome.

This is so sad. It's almost similar to the news I came across about a teenager who injected himself with butterfly resins because he was participating in an online challenge and it cost him his dear life.

We are in an era where people do crazy things whether for fun or money but they forget one important thing, that life is priceless and we've got no spare. So no amount of money should warrant anyone putting his/her life at risk.

I'm not sure whether more silly things are done nowadays or if we just hear about them more because of the internet. However, without more data, I'd bet that more silly things are done now than 50 years ago or more.

[Bushdark]

All I can say that people should pay more attention to the risk they are about to take and think ahead. This refers to children mostly and their "I bet you can or cant do something". When I was a kid, we also used to play "I bet you cant swim to next shore" kind of things. We were 5-8 years old and a lake 200m wide, no adults nearby. This was so ridiculous to do when I think about it now. We were not professional swimmers, none of us had any skill or knew what to do if someone starts drowning.

Sometimes it's hood for you to take huge risk as gambler because that is what is going to separate you from the rest with a tendency of making you faster ans bigger profits. Gambling is not all about using small money tombet always, there are some times when is likeable for us to gamble with big fund to try luck of winning huge amounts of money.

I have gambled many times with a risk that is bigger than what I can afford and i was happy because the money was mine and not a borrowed fund. Some of those bets led to losses while other gave me amazing profits. Take risks sometimes to test your luck as a gambler and that can also change your life automatically.

[mcdouglasx]

Human beings have a tendency to expose ourselves to risks intentionally, often aware of the possible consequences. This search for emotions, attention, adrenaline, money, or fame can make us feel invincible, even though reality proves otherwise every day.

It’s important to remember that our health and our life are the most valuable things we have, and we should always prioritize them. Facing our fears and challenges in a healthy and safe way can help us find a balance between living fully and taking care of ourselves without having to gamble. I also believe we should avoid putting those around us in such dangerous situations.

[Pandorak]

It's very sad to see him, it shouldn't have happened to him, accepting a very risky and life-threatening bet is stupid, even just being paid a few tens of cents, it doesn't make sense, how could he accept that bet without thinking about the risks, his family must be very sad to hear this news, plus the reason for his death is very unexpected.

Even if he did it just for fun and to prove that he was a good swimmer, nothing is more important than your life, you only have one life, so take care of it, we enjoy life not complicate life by doing silly things.

[Volgastallion]

Sad to read this, but one thing is a bet when you know is nearby to impossible to do the task asignated to that bet, and another very diferent is when is a simple bet for "fun" and is a not so complicated task and somehow the task ended up being letal for an external factor, in this case a turbulence in the river or a sudden cramp.

[bhadz]

That's desperation but on that case of the student, it's not about being an addictive gambler. He's in need and even with that small amount, he took the risk even it stakes his life. I'm really sorry about what happened to him. If life is just too easy for everyone, we won't having troubles like this and we're all gonna live in peace and happiness. But no, life is even tougher day after day and that's why whether we're a gambler or not, we need to keep it in our minds that our lives is more important than any of these pennies.

I know what it actually feels like as a student but to me it's a dumb risk even if you have to take risk then you must consider risk management I.e you have to think the negative outcome of such risk you're about to take , most people fail when it comes to this they only think about the positive side,failing to balance it and when it comes it drains them entirely. Hence as a student who's desperately in need, gambling should not be the first thing that comes to your mind, it's a 50-50 chance you could lose even the little  you have  noto talk more of putting your life on the line it's just look way out of it.
Life is not going to get soft ,[off] all it need is working toward a better turn around, take less or eliminate  dumb risks..

Totally dumb risk but I don't want to do victim blaming, he's gone and there's no way that his life will be back just to blame him. Different circumstances and situations might really give us to do something like this. But as I am saying, we need to protect our own welfare for this and maybe for that student, he's still got a kid mind on his head and that's why he has never thought of it on how he should be better with his life. The family for sure cannot imagine how he's done it and surely are having hard time in moving on and accepting what has happened.

[Mr.sprin]

Sometimes it's hood for you to take huge risk as gambler because that is what is going to separate you from the rest with a tendency of making you faster ans bigger profits. Gambling is not all about using small money tombet always, there are some times when is likeable for us to gamble with big fund to try luck of winning huge amounts of money.

I have gambled many times with a risk that is bigger than what I can afford and i was happy because the money was mine and not a borrowed fund. Some of those bets led to losses while other gave me amazing profits. Take risks sometimes to test your luck as a gambler and that can also change your life automatically.

Yes, that's true, bro, but when we invest capital to gamble, it must be within our means, don't let us force ourselves to gamble with large capital but we are unable to return the capital we have spent, which in the end becomes a boomerang for us, it's lucky if we return our capital, if we lose everything it becomes a frustration for us.

Gambling is for our own entertainment but in entertainment we also have the pleasure of seeking profit, the size of the profit depends on our ability to spend capital when playing, if we are able to play with small capital it means we have to receive small profits too, if we want large profits then the capital must also be large, as long as we are able to accept all the existing risks, don't force yourself to seek large profits but we are not able to accept the risks.

[uneng]

It's not ethical to take part in bets involving physical risks for the parts involved, even though it might be exciting to accept challenges to prove personal skills and capacities to the crowds around. Personally, I wouldn't feel good by placing and winning a bet on a competition where a participant died during the process. If this kind of situation is normalized, the tendency is to see wilder and more barbaric challenges and competitions happening, with people placing bets on them, like modern gladiator games.

And since there are people on the internet doing the most absurd and dangerous things for cheap money, I don't doubt there would be candidates for such sanguinary games.