When Gender Reveals Are Dangerous: 5 Parties That Took a Tragic Turn
Revealing the sex of your child is typically a joyous occasion for you and your partner. But as “gender reveal” parties grow in popularity (something the inventor of the concept now says she regrets), the desire to make them bigger, more over-the-top and more memorable than ever before has led to some shocking (and truly tragic) outcomes. Below are five stories that made headlines for their unhappy endings – and are a reminder that no social media moment is worth putting yourself or others at risk.
Iowa Woman Dies After Being Struck by Debris
Pamela Kreimeyer, 56, was killed on Oct. 26, 2019, after being hit in the head by a piece of metal that was part of a gender reveal announcement. Members of the Kreimeyer family had been testing different types of explosive material and had inadvertently created a pipe bomb, which resulted in authorities finding Kreimeyer, a wife, mother and grandmother, dead at the scene.
Explosion Shakes Homes More Than 2 Miles Away
Just one day after Kreimeyer’s death was announced, there was another explosion reported in Iowa, according to KCCI-8. Fortunately, no one was harmed as a result of the blast, but the Waukee Fire Department announced that the explosion was felt by residents who lived as far as two miles away.
Arizona Border Patrol Agent Accidentally Starts Wildfire
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service released a video of the exact moment patrol agent Dennis Dickey shot a “high-velocity firearm” at a target that was supposed to only release a blue or pink powder. However, the hit caused an explosion that sparked the 2017 Sawmill Fire (as it came to be known), which damaged more than 45,000 acres and cost more than $8 million in damages.
A Family Gets Up Close and Personal with An Alligator’s Jaws
This video, shared by Melody Kliebert, depicts a dad-to-be getting right up in an alligator’s face, tapping its nose and trying wrestle it into position for its big “reveal” moment: biting into a watermelon filled with blue Jell-O. While no one is hurt in the video, we probably don’t need to remind you that alligators are deadly predators and should not be considered a playful addition to a family event.
Air Cannon Injures Dad-to-Be’s Groin
This couple’s gender reveal video went viral for all the wrong reasons. The clip starts off with the expectant parents on a deck outside, happily preparing to launch their air cannons to announce the sex of their baby with blue or pink colors. Just as the soon-to-be dad’s air cannon shot out blue powder, signifying a baby boy, the back of the cannon shot right back at him in a not-so-sweet spot.
