YouTuber Known For Extreme “Pool Drops” Seeks $10,000 After Breaking Legs

The world of YouTube stunt videos includes some pretty gnarly stuff, but a recent accident raises some questions about the limits of that genre. A death-defying creator named Anthony “8booth” Armer is seeking $10,000 on GoFundMe after he broke both his legs while attempting a “pool drop” at a Laguna Beach hotel.

On his channel, 8booth jumps from high perches and lands in pools, The Pacific Ocean, and other bodies of water. His videos are exhilarating because of their inherent danger; while had had never previously sustained a serious injury in one of his videos, he had encountered some close calls.

Then, during his eighth pool drop, he landed short of his destination and suffered severe damage to both of his legs. As a warning, this video includes some graphic images of his injuries.

As he recuperates, 8booth is hoping to raise the money he needs to pay his medical bills. He’s currently well short of his goal, though he has raised more than $1,000.  Responses from visitors to the page have been mixed, with some people supporting 8booth and others excoriating him for his flagrantly dangerous behavior.

8booth’s injuries are noteworthy because of the questions they raise about extreme YouTube content. There’s no question that 8booth’s digital success (he has received more than 19 million views less than four months) are due to the risky nature of his videos. It’s important to remember that risk is very real, and sometimes, things can go horribly wrong. Here’s hoping 8booth makes a full and speedy recovery.