The worst death story on the internet

[@qcrew2938]

As soon as John said "Three places you can't go" I started clapping.... best series on the internet period!!

[@MrBallen]

🙏🙏🙏

[@daiale93]

agreed.

[@MrBallen]

@@LN.AR7 I removed them, so you win!

[@mirrrstery]

facts

[@sujalbageriya2619]

I wish he posted more of "Disturbing stories behind videos" that was the best imo

[@maxtredo5192]

The winch operator deserves actual jail time as well as never working another rig in his life. The amount of negligence cost a man his life

[@caroljo420]

What a horrible way to die! I agree, he should be in jail for negligent homicide!

[@walmars3curity]

@@caroljo420 Messed up. I saw that happening right away, how can someone not take extra caution in that situation?

[@colejones6369]

Just a slow and painful death RIP to the guy communicating is key in there job it’s the difference between life and death

[@jcbogdon]

I mean an his buddies who he worked with who were watching the whole thing happen an they couldn’t do anything! Just watched their buddy being torn apart! Horrific!

[@AneudiD78]

@@colejones6369 What really pissed me off with that rig operator and the other workers is that they never heard of radios? And only used hand signals? Smh.

[@Finians_Mancave]

The first accident with Gordon was so incredibly negligent it's almost hard to believe. No quick-release latch on the harness (With a secondary safety cable to catch subject). No direct communication with winch operator during the operation (Hand signals! Really?). No requirement for the winch operator to pay the slightest attention whatsoever once he presses the button... In short, no safety precautions in place at all for that obviously dangerous procedure! A textbook case of industrial stupidity and negligence!

[@Spills51]

I totally agree except I am fairly positive the winch operator would have been told he needs to keep his eyes on the men throwing hand signals at all times when doing such a procedure. Liikely the fact is that he did it dozens or hundreds of times and simply let familiarity cloud his judgement of the real danger every time they started such a procedure. Unless the guy is a psychopath I am sure he will feel guilt till the day his time comes. There for sure should have been some type of radio communication ON HAND....No one should of had to RUN ANYWHERE in order to communicate with the operator, it should of been readily available. I mean....what happens if its extrememly foggy etc and they had to do such maintenence??? It was such an avoidable tragedy. Then again, arent almost all these "You shouldnt go there" stories exactly that??

[@sharonandrus5009]

Everyone knows it's all about the money😞 While the fat executives sit in their chairs counting their money this man dies trying to support his family.😢

[@siontifictm7366]

@@shadodragonette nah, most bosses here are on your ass when it comes to any procedure with risk of death. They don’t wanna get sued

[@PuppetMasterdaath144]

its because of how society programs its citizens, in short, its slavery, more and more evident now with 20000% inflation xD

[@DD-101]

More of a killing than an accident imho.

[@michaelsmith3069]

I’m so angry about the winch operator. No matter how many times you’ve done that, you should never stop paying attention until the guy is completely off the winch.

[@lymmea]

It could even be as simple as 'while the winch is actually operating', which is an even smaller period of time to demand someone's full attention. If someone's in the winch harness but the winch isn't moving, they're not in any active danger. But while you're OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY, you'd think you wouldn't just casually stop paying attention to what it's doing! Just...absolutely no excuse. When you have a person and heavy machinery in close contact, and you're in charge of the machinery, you either pay attention while you're running the machinery or you've got no business operating it because you can easily get someone killed.

[@michaelbraum77]

EXACTLY!!! If you are in the position that literally has another man's life "hanging" in the balance you should be 100% invested in your job, until the job is done! He needs to be, at minimum fired and blacklisted, and at best rotting in prison!

[@elindquist5725]

I would say part of the blame lies with the other crew mates watching through the hole and signaling the operator. Why didn't any of them go and use the phone as soon as they could see operator wasn't looking? Instead it was the very last thing done... but too late. 🤔🤦‍♂️

[@kenzilovitsky2216]

Yes !!!

[@jeremydehart7466]

Oh I know man! I used to be a Forman for a tree company, and you got to be paying attention at all times. The ground men and the climbers!! These are some very dangerous jobs, and they need to be treated that way, and paying attention is key!👍🏼👍🏼

[@gladxch]

The moment I heard "stashed scrap metal", under a cellar in the middle of the forest, I knew it had to be either radioactive metal or radioactive waste. Its hugely possible that the fluid in the barrel was radioactive as well.

[@karal_the_crazy]

Same They said the windows were sealed new I knew it was toxic Then they Said 55 gallon barrels on shelves in a locked bunker and I knew

[@captaincroissandwich6950]

My guess is that the barrels possibly contained Tritiated Water, which is waste water that contains high concentrations of radioactive tritium after being used in nuclear power generation. Water is widely used as coolant for reactors and depleted nuclear fuel rods (in a special-purpose reservoir pool) during nuclear waste processing, and the tritium levels in it increases as radioactive particles affect the water atoms and cause tritium to form and accumulate.

[@StudleyDuderight]

Isn't it amazing how incompetent and irresponsible Russia was with nuclear energy?

[@karal_the_crazy]

yes verry much so@@StudleyDuderight

[@HeydenHarvey]

@@StudleyDuderight what else should they have done

[@h1n1virus85]

When you're sitting around with your buddies talkin about the worst way to die. Being pulled through a little hole pelvis first just never comes up. What a gruesome story. You are a gifted storyteller MrBallen. Thank you

[@MrBallen]

Ya for real. So awful. Thanks 🙏

[@goateditz321]

@@MrBallen keep doing what u do, ur good at it!!

[@mattjacobson3616]

I swear to god on this story, as soon I heard mrballen say the guy puts it around his waist i said don't tell me he gets pulled in half. Sure enough that's what happened. I think its safe to say that I watch to much of mrballens videos.

[@EazytheNDAcaptain]

You ruined the story for me. I guess I shouldn’t read comments before watching the video. 🤦‍♂️

[@Loregasmo]

His mother always said all that Thrustin’ was gonna be the death of him one day, little did either of them know...

[@MobyDaPunk]

That oil rig story was one of the most horrifying stories I've heard. Getting your body completely cut in half without being able to do anything.. is truly terrifying.

[@jasonnation6615]

so is not paying attention to safety protocols.

[@mojo3067]

I would've FIRED and Sued the winch operator. Day dreaming on the job especially attention to detail positions is NOT ok!

[@yolodemo6315]

anyone know he actually got charge with manslaughter?

[@mirzamay]

Your think he could spare a few seconds to "routinely" check the wynch directing. But maybe the guy was on 6 days straight without a full night's sleep.. like they do doctors and pilots.. all the people you'd want going about in zombie mode and microsleeping on the job. Idk why we always have to learn the hard way... which is first to blame all the lower echelon people for mistakes made directly due to higher echelon policy, and to keep doing that continually until eventually they get sued on up the chain. When higher ups are inconvenienced enough by all the wrist slapping slow changes begin.

[@deebrown4394]

ok yeah, but what about the incline? imagine how horrible it mustve been knowing what was gonna happen and not being able to do a damn thing.

[@mcfragger2605]

The case of Gordon is a classic example of an old saying in my country: "I am not afraid of powerful enemies, I am terrified of moronic allies"

[@YourIQDoesntMeanShitToMe]

Who said that? This is gonna stick inside my head for sure.

[@Nolanoyayo]

What country

[@jussehwagner3166]

@@Nolanoyayo any country that allied with italy or austria

[@turismofoegaming8806]

Could not have said this better-

[@RashawnBlue1]

@@YourIQDoesntMeanShitToMe I know this is late, but that quote is a Napoleon quote, though sort of incorrect. I recognized it instantly since I love history. The quote is: "What one should really fear is not a competent enemy, but an incompetent ally.”"

[@Nienke131]

The Bernard story is crazy to me. That mall should be fined heavily. Not just for this instance, but how on earth do you have an EMERGENCY EXIT that is so incredibly difficult to actually EXIT from. What if there really is a fire in the mall or something and a large group of people enters that maze? 🤷‍♀️

[@m.m.1933]

Why did the door automatically lock behind him? It shouldn't have been able to open in the first place then, only with staff keys. Definitely negligent and awful safety standards. He shouldn't have suffered this way* Definitely preventable in several ways

[@averagedrip2588]

Nah, if ur parents had dementia would you let them wonder around high traffic areas? If they had 2 brain cells this wouldn’t have happened.

[@averagedrip2588]

@@m.m.1933do you lock ur door when u leave?

[@NAVE0423]

Um what barnard

[@CombatMedic1O]

Really there's 2 entities at fault here. The family that let him wander by himself. knowing his condition. And then mostly these lazy security Guards. The security completely killed him. Just a bunch of lazy stupid punks. Security Guards are the dumbest laziest people on the planet.

[@jessadelix7415]

That winch operator is the one mainly responsible for Gordon’s death. Holy shit, how can you take your eyes off a situation?! EVERY time you do something dangerous, even if it’s worked a million times before, you keep looking! Especially if you can’t hear! Holy crap. Edit: some really interesting comments below from people who work in this sort of industry pointing out areas where the company were also responsible and safety measures they could have implemented!

[@Pookielovespinkstrawberry]

Yup! And now he has to live with the guilt and regret for the rest of his life when this could have been prevented if he had just paid attention.

[@lunargalaxy7175]

Yea personally if i were the group of workers on the 1st deck that witnessed it that winch operator and my fellow coworkers would have to beat him he litterally killed him because of his ignorance.

[@sy_dianne5224]

It's what happens when you get too comfortable with your job

[@GuruishMike]

I hope he went to prison.

[@johnserosanguineous1886]

Of all the people that deserve 112 years in prison this is the guy.

[@charlottemartyr]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; if you have an emergency exit that can’t accommodate or be navigated by children, the elderly, and/or the disabled, you do not have an exit. You have a death trap.

[@clintonpiercy6651]

Yea I always say that too like twice a day actually. Gets tiring having to remind these dumbasses.

[@alexia3552]

truth

[@czyrn.]

So tru 😌✋

[@EarthIncompatible]

Where I'm from, all emergency exits are on alarms. If someone goes through, loud alarms go off, and the light above the door starts flashing. The thought is that if it's an emergency, everybody needs to be notified so they can exit as well. Also, it prevents children/confused people from getting trapped the way Bernard did. Thirdly, it prevents predators from using those exit areas to perpetrate crimes. I have no idea why such a huge mall didn't have something similar in place. It's not rocket science.

[@neriumsuitedher]

@@EarthIncompatible What I immediately thought about this sad case, is that with such lax security it's a really good set up for some very nefarious undertakings.

[@shuvari7707]

The mental image of the elderly man confusedly wandering throughout a concrete maze wondering when his family or a random passerby is going to come help him is so sad it actually made me shed a tear.

[@daflotsam]

Yeah, truly feel bad for Bernard and his last day or so.

[@miguelcalleja9274]

Truly awful… must have felt like clipping into the backrooms

[@heyfucko]

natural selection at work

[@Quokka838]

Same thing. My beloved Dad has Alzheimer's and that story has been a stab into my heart. When we understood his life was in danger we had to find a good place where nurses and doctors take care of him. But the separation from Dad was and still is so painful.

[@yorkshire_tea_innit8097]

@@heyfucko He was an old man with living children, you dope.

[@willamepaz]

The second case reminded me of what happened in Goiania, Brazil, in 1987 called Cesium -137. Two recycling pickers entered an abandoned clinic looking for metals to sell. They found a device, disassembled part of it and took it to a junkyard to sell it. In the junkyard, the device was finally disassembled and inside it had a white powder that glowed at night. The white powder was Cesium -137 which killed 4 people and affected over a thousand people. It was the biggest radiological accident in history that happened outside a nuclear power plant

[@ladykupo]

That's crazy! It would be cool if he covered that story.

[@Dukelikestonukeonbubes]

Wasn't that cobalt 60 not cs137

[@normadesmond9659]

The case in Estonia was also caesium-137. I was curious after watching this and found some good articles on the event.

[@taivovutt6869]

What was the name of the city in Estonia Iwonder it was hard to understand in the video can enyone clear this?@@normadesmond9659

[@jolanas.5426]

He covered the story on the Mr. Ballen's Medical Mysteries podcast.

[@Sienna1919]

Damn, I can't even imagine the pain and fear the first guy went through as he died... terrible. My respect and well wishes to his family

[@derekperry4150]

I thought the exact same....disturbing and sad.

[@SeriousSchitt]

As soon as John said that this winch was operated by a third party, who cannot see Gordon (or whatever his name was) I thought this guy's dead, and in one of the most horrible ways imaginable. I mean who would have a set up like that? It should be the guy in the harness that operates the winch!

[@petermelnyk7664]

I almost had to stop watching it..lol....you would think some type of sensitivity sensor would be installed on a winch used to move people....gnarly!!

[@spelwurdsrite6756]

Mfin hoist operator to be so negligent. Even more blame to the company

[@lindairvine7679]

@@SeriousSchitt yes that would be much better if he’d been able to operate his own winch 😧 instead it sounded like some awful death concocted by jigsaw from one of the saw movies 😞 poor guy

[@8KinaYamazaki8]

The idea of Bernard sitting in the chair tired, confused, dehydrated and hungry while waiting for someone to help him has me sobbing.

[@Perla2212]

fr though that’s so sad :/

[@oystersoup3434]

It's one of the most harrowing stories I've heard. Truly.

[@LordPrometheous]

Were you literally sobbing? People always say they're crying over a KZbin video, but I guess it's hard for me to imagine, which is why I'm asking.

[@user-cj9eh4tn4c]

@@LordPrometheous idk about her but i am actually crying over bernard, i cry a lot of tv/videos tho

[@frankierzucekjr]

Same. My uncle died from Alzheimer's disease and I could only imagine. Hearing he was lost and stuck just broke my heart. It's unbelievable how quickly it takes your life away, in the mental sense. Devastating

[@PerkJai]

Just imagine if the mall security actually did their job then Benard would've been alive. If the security took a little bit more time checking the surveillance cameras he would've been alive. If the security checked those hallways (like they're supposed to) he would've been alive. As security, your job is: to be alert. There isn't such thing as laziness in that department. So sad knowing that his final moments were him waiting and waiting for his family. Rest in peace.

[@g0dfree291]

How do you have a tick with your name?

[@THEMJD80]

I thought the same thing. When he said that they reviewed the camera footage, I was skeptical. How did they check all of the footage so fast? Just pure neglect on the mals part.

[@marcuskif]

@@THEMJD80 I was thinking the exact thing. And I'm bit of pessimistic.

[@pepironi992]

Upload once or twice a week LOL at least be honest Ballen. It’s more like once or twice every 4 months

[@mgtogno]

so true

[@dominantlyd4085]

As the daughter of a veteran currently suffering from dementia, I could hardly bare to listen to Bernard's story. I'm so overwhelmed with frustration and sadness for him and his loved ones. Absolutely heartbreaking, and as the primary caregiver for my amazing father, it is quite frankly horrifying.

[@TracyGreen-xv1jk]

I'm so sorry your Dad is sick . This is truly one of the saddest stories I've ever heard. And it could have easily been avoidable which pisses me off so much. God bless you and your Dad. And of course poor Bernard and his family 😞

[@ZanePrice-hd5gj]

Same thing here. Losing my dad a little bit everyday 💔

[@Techtonikization]

I can't help but get more and more mad. The security guards who just didn't check the hallways should at least feel guilty if not face something, it is literally your job to check to see if someone has accidentally gotten themselves locked in these areas and yeah 99.9999999% of the time they're going to be empty. YOU DONT JUST STOP DOING SECURITY CHECKS BECAUSE YOU DONT FIND ANYTHING

[@flogoro]

@@TracyGreen-xv1jk huge respect and love for you for caring for your father and not just putting him in some facility

[@5by5Fit]

I feel so bad for Bernard. He died alone, confused and more than likely, terrified.

[@alexa52-]

i know it is horrible

[@danalamb8398]

Without a question. How would you feel!

[@TechnicallyMe24]

I never understand why when people go missing in a certain location, especially elderly or young children who wander into places, they don't look in places that aren't used a lot or areas that they obviously aren't supposed to be.

[@esposexy2210]

the prophet muhammad

[@tyrssen1]

Well damn; poor Bernard.

[@bearbear4389]

Years ago, my father was lost for over 2 days. The desperation we experienced was horrible. We finally found him in a city which was more than 3 hours away from where he lived, sitting on a beach, and only because a young couple noticed him and began talking to him, then realized he was lost. I'm so sorry the man in the video wasn't as fortunate. My father has since passed on, but we were lucky to have him for his final years. If you see an elderly person sitting or standing alone, please strike up a little conversation with them. Even if they aren't lost, they might be lonely, and we can learn a lot from them.

[@dianthis]

Totally agree! We should be more aware of that. Some of the best times I’ve had were talking with my elderly parent’s friends. No they weren’t alone as you said but I’m speaking to your point as you may learn something. So glad your father was found! Edited for crappy spelling. Lol

[@bearbear4389]

@@dianthis thank you 🙏

[@kingexplosionmurderfuckoff9376]

It's really sad how some people treat the elderly. Deaths like Bernard's make me the saddest. I can't imagine what that poor, sweet old man was going through. Scared and alone, waiting for someone to help him. It's just creul.

[@hisinfernalmajesty1849]

Jesus, i can only imagine how the emotions played out when i assume they called you?

[@alexia3552]

really good advice, I will remember that

[@dereka4816]

That last one is just cruel. Being confused already with early dementia and ending up in an incredibly confusing place even for those sound of mind. What a horrific way to go

[@SpinoRexy733]

You know what's really cruel? Letting people live with horrible diseases like dementia and alzheimers and having it eat away at everything that makes them who they are. When are pets have horrible irreversible health problems that can't be treated or cured, we put them down and everyone agrees that's the right thing to do, but for some reason we refuse to extent that to people and put people down when they are suffering from diseases that are irreversible, untreatable and uncurable and just leave them to suffer until their last breath. It should be a moral obligation to at least give them the option to seek doctor assisted suicide to have themselves put out of their misery. I know that if I am ever diagnosed with either of these mental illnesses I'll ask, no DEMAND the doctor to euthanize me! And if the quack refuses to honor my request I'll do everything in my power to take matter into my own hands and do it myself, even if I have to throw myself into traffic and sprint onto a highway!

[@Bazerald777]

I mean if he learn how to fucking read EXIT, he would be okay. Dementia doesn't suddenly make you illiterate lmao

[@mapleflag6518]

all because no one bothered to set up signs or a map

[@laceymae223]

N he probably just sat there with all the hope that his family would find him, thinking they knew where he was

[@TheAngryXenite]

​@@mapleflag6518 You know something that could have saved his life so easily? A fucking silent alarm. It's an emergency door into an employee-only area. The door locks behind you when it closes. How are there not security measures to trip whenever the doors are used so security can figure out why there's unauthorized access? Why was there not a panic button inside the door in case you accidentally made a mistake? It's a big mall, there WILL be people who take a wrong turn looking for the bathroom or something, and you need to prepare for that.

[@laurennicole9151]

Why would they let someone who’s experiencing early signs of dementia walk by themselves in an area they aren’t 100% familiar with

[@onebreath210]

That was my first thought too

[@DarlaAnne]

and then wait 6 hours to notify authorities. Unbelievable.

[@NevadaLamb]

That’s what I was thinking too. I don’t want to blame them cause I’m sure they regret that decision everyday, but come on guys! 😢

[@jadenace5246]

My neighbor Had Alzheimer's and walked out his house for a walk. A while later a stranger smelled rotting from his shed. He opened it to find my neighbor who died from dehydration. He forgot where he lived

[@Cassxowary]

even if he’s 100% familiar with it, he had dementia, so it’s not familiar anymore most likely

[@_DropTheMike]

Jon you have us coming back like crack addicts. You played us in a genius way. Starting off with 4-5 videos a week all the way down to 1. Well played Mr. Ballen. Well played.

[@MrBallen]

😂

[@lizc6393]

The man's a hero, I think he's earned it! By hero I mean he's a father of multiple children... (Oh, and there's that whole Navy SEAL thing too I guess.)

[@lanalovesjesus6133]

🤣

[@DemonGirlJewells]

My sentiments exactly

[@RaoulDukeSr]

Family life gets busier and busier by the day 👍

[@joytaylor7556]

Bernard's story is so chilling. Knowing that in his final moments he was most likely still waiting for his family is heartbreaking. I hope him and his family can find peace.

[@amandaanderson944]

Crying thinking about how scared & alone he must have been 😭😭 I wonder if the mall has done anything to improve the way of getting out. Imagine a small child getting lost in there 😩

[@rabbit9905]

Right. That one really chilled me to the core. Just wandering nondescript hallways encountering locked doors, what an absolute hell. Like an actual nightmare scenario. It just breaks my heart.

[@mrsjacobtiner]

I completely agree. Bless his heart.

[@SaroKyu]

This story is especially frightening, I can’t help but think this poor man suffered his last moments experiencing his own real-life version of the back rooms.

[@noveltylaser693]

​@@rabbit9905 It's literally the backrooms. No obvious way out, no service, and no people.

[@blumenthol]

I was a hoist operator at a salt mine 2300 feet deep (Lansing, NY) and I did this task often with mine shaft repair crews - same thing. I NEVER EVER took it as routine and always forced myself to pay 100% attention. No accidents in my years there. Watching this video makes me damn glad that I did. They had the wrong guy at the hoist controls.

[@jrehr90]

Did you guys communicate via walkie-talkie?

[@judypeterson5465]

Thank you for sharing and it's good to know that you were 100% on your job. You were respectful of other people's lives.

[@MP-ut6eb]

man...im so pissed about the first story.

[@timshenk2210]

we used two systems: one of buzzers from pressing a button. three buzzes means go up and two down. one means stop. We also talked via radio walkie talkyeah well walkie talkies as well.. So we had to use 2 different means to communicate before I moved it

[@vilmacamacho9809]

God bless you. ☺️

[@mymatemartin]

As an Aussie, I recall the tragic story of Bernard. A heart wrenching and unbelievably sad story. It occured at a time when my father in law was well on his way into dementia and the heightened state of awareness we all needed to support him was incredible. One simple innocent mistake by Bernard was followed by a cascade of unfortunate happenstance that ultimately lead to his utterly unnecessary death.

[@Cassxowary]

yah and westfield bondi junction’s people in charge doing what they usually do…

[@jasperbennett8233]

An emergency exit that leads to a dark hallway with locked doors and only one actual exit that isn't clearly marked. That sounds like a great idea.

[@suonatar1]

Sure, what could go wrong? You can escape the fire, but you can't escape THE MALL. You'd probably suffocate trying to find exit, or get trampled in the narrow corridors by escaping people.

[@ef5supercell]

absolute geniuses who were behind that

[@Lizard32192]

beer should not exist for this reason

[@ytcommenter375]

@@Lizard32192 what does beer have to do with this

[@mapleflag6518]

Also having no signs or map of the tunnels that people can use to actually navigate the tunnels? Such a smart plan!

[@sonofamitch696]

As a security guard myself, it pains me to know these security guards did a terrible job looking at the security cameras. If police contacted me and told me to look at the cameras for someone I would have spent countless days and sleepless nights looking for this man. It's a boring job being a security guard and when you get told to help out on a case to find a missing man, that would fill me with excitement and I'd feel like some sort of detective on a case. I guess that's just me though, but still even if there are hundreds of cameras and footage to look through, theres no reason to give up so early since its YOUR JOB to make sure people are safe. That is literally the first thing you learn when becoming a security guard.

[@maryamtara2934]

Because you’re a great person however some people don’t care

[@CuriousGeorgeFloyd]

If they contacted me and asked me to look for a person, I would do it also after the overtime pay agreement.

[@persaunna]

God bless you.

[@chrisadlc1]

Yeah because you actually care and have some sense.. such a shame, two huge mistakes that with the cameras and not doing their rounds FOR 3 WEEKS

[@qayss8977]

Right? I would also JUMP (an volunteer) at the opportunity to get paid to walk through miles of passages instead of my daily routine.

[@ndknight]

I'm surprised the hoist operator wasn't brought up on criminal charges for negligence on the job leading to the death of a co-worker. I've worked on ships with bosses that, if they see you not paying attention to a job for even a second, you were fired.

[@DeagleGamesTV]

This. And also amazed the company didn't have procedures in place to use 2 way communication at all time between the ground crew and the hoist operator, especially considering there is no built in fail safe to prevent the winch from going higher than the hole.

[@gladtobeangry]

That whole incident should never have been possible to happen. There should always be a safety mechanism in place, an emergency stop button that the person themselves can operate, or at least the ones on the floor above who are in direct communication with the guy in the harness. The neglicence of the guy operating the winch is a factor as well, but those things happen in a work situation. At first every moment is full attention, but once you've been working in a place like that for a while, you start to operate on autopilot to some degree. Unless it's this guys sole job to operate the winch, there's probably other tasks that require his attention too. This is why safety precautions at the job are important. They're there precisely to eliminate risks from carelessness and human error.

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

Sounds like they were good bosses.

[@catlover1986]

The problem is that it's not a crime to not pay adequate attention at all times. Rather, it's the company's responsibility to ensure that it is impossible for such hazards to exist. I saw where this story was going as soon as they showed the whole and winch. It is intrinsically unsafe, and that's the company's fault, not the employees.

[@solome6478]

@@gladtobeangry baffles me why the guy on the line doesn't have a emergency stop mechanism

[@drummernicky3423]

The fact the winch operator stopped looking before the job was done was insane. That’s like painting one side of a car then leaving without painting the other.

[@aphoticjellyfish]

I would argue that it’s just a tiny bit worse

[@JalinaTheFox1]

@@aphoticjellyfish agreed

[@kajrb]

More like watching your kids do half the chores, then heading to your room to sleep thinking they'll get it done

[@deantsanga1121]

Bernard's last moments must have been terrifying. That was so sad. May he rest in peace.

[@bentonrp]

Yeah, I shudder at stories where civilization is so close, but so far for someone who's experiencing utter hell just around the corner. 😥

[@dancingfirefly7761]

That story made me really sad. My Pop, who died several years ago, had Alzheimer's, and was often confused and frightened. What Bernard experienced would be terrifying for anyone, but especially so for ok be having dementia.

[@robinscarborough6969]

I've always thought if I got there I can find a way out, but after this poor man's story, I need to rethink my own logic.

[@sy_dianne5224]

I hope the family sued the mall

[@stygianmoon1716]

@@robinscarborough6969 if you had all your brain, you could. Just stay near the door, and bang on it. His first mistake was to begin walking. Tragic :/

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Just goes to show it's always better to be safe than sorry, the Hoist Operator could've prevented it from happening, but his carelessness took a life that day.

[@Concreto1984]

I can't wrap my mind around the fact that there is no radio communication between them, that's just an invitation for an accident. Goddamn stupidity

[@Areallthesetaken]

You don't think Gordon could've just laid back and slipped his legs through the hole?

[@cipherP9]

They should have at least put an emergency stop button on each level.

[@davelowesky8054]

@@cipherP9 yeah, and what about radio coms? I can’t believe they didn’t have at least one or two lanyards on his safety harness. In case the winch holding him fails he would have one or two lanyards to hold him there preventing him from falling. It’s basically a fall rated lanyard hooked to your body harness. And I can’t believe the company was only fined 60,000 pounds. They must know people in the courts and governments. It’s appalling

[@annoyingobservations2310]

The hoist operator, should have been charged with at least negligent homicide. By having the operator serve thirty years or more in prison. Also was their a disagreement between the two. Which the operator used it as a chance to murder the guy. And lie about being distracted. Also the lack of communications between the repairman and the operator. Makes one big reason to sue the oil rig owners.

[@demoneyin9390]

As someone who operates heavy machinery, the first story absolutely grinds my gears. No matter how routine the job is, you make sure you’re paying attention at all times while operating. Even if it’s mostly automated. There’s emergency stops on things like that for a reason. Especially with how much money those guys make, you’d think they’d be able to do their job right. Smh rip Gordon

[@StreetGeekz]

Yeah, I’m with you on that bro. Why turn away as if nothing could malfunction/go awry? God I wanted to beat his ass.

[@SexRealist301]

@@StreetGeekz So do I, mate. He should also be charged with negligence.

[@ShellyMischelleMorrison]

In about 1984, '85 I was in Houston and I dated a girl who was a roughneck. She said and I quote; " the alarm only goes off if the drill stops pumping Black Gold". Yeah bro I think a lot of us wanted to wake that operator up in our own special way however, these companies pay them the money, then they expect them to take many unreasonable, unnecessary risks!♡ I wait and hope and pray for zero-point energy, if it were to exist already; think of how hard it would be to introduce it to the world just to get past these companies that want to keep us pumping crude into our vehicles Etc... Rip Gordon☆

[@surkularsinisism1989]

An open line of communication through a simple radio or something could have saved the guy. Waving at an operator isn’t as reliable as screaming at him through a speaker.

[@ChrisHensley2]

I bet you would have had a radio too! I bet you would have made sure the guy whos life is in your hands had a damn radio. What the hell was with all the stupid smoke signals and yelling as method to communicate.

[@tucker3601]

I’ve traversed around the service corridors in one of the Westfield’s in Sydney when I worked there. It was so eerie; it felt like a jump scare was going to happen at any second. You can be completely alone, deep inside a concrete maze with only random arrows and faint lights to guide you. Feel for Bernard.

[@blinderII]

The saddest part of Bernard's story was when he spotted the chair and "did what he was programmed to do, to sit and wait for help"...but no help ever came. That is just heart-breaking to me. Poor ol' fella...may he rest in peace.

[@moonluvvaa]

I know :(

[@TracyGreen-xv1jk]

So sad hey? Broke my heart. 😢

[@m.m.1933]

That was absolutely heartbreaking 💔 and the photo of him with the parrot was so precious* could tell that bird loved and trusted him❤

[@niramm]

Yes :( he must have felt like a little child, it breaks my heart

[@Joshua-on3wr]

Can't really program a person makes it sound like he's a computer lol

[@chrisbartolini1508]

Poor Bernard, always breaks my heart to hear an elderly person having a lonely, undignified passing.

[@aaronrogers4533]

why would they build such a place with little safety protocols, it like one of those mazes in greek mythology and it could have been prevented had they just put a little money into it, did they not think an elderly person or child would walk thru one of those one way locked doors?

[@Byrd_Gaming]

swear...

[@hooktraining3966]

@@aaronrogers4533 It would cost far too much. If I had to guess, the mall owners would prefer to collect millions in their pocket for when they die then use that money for anything else like improving their product (the entire mall). You will see it all the time, places like this look pretty on the outside but behind the scenes they fall short of all kinds of regulations and there are problems eroding away that are not solved because they cost money. Eventually, something terrible like this happens.

[@aaronrogers4533]

@@hooktraining3966 I agree, sadly this has become the way of the world, while us little guys must obey every rule and tax those with power can allow their greed to dictate their bad behavior without impunity

[@Meg4n]

@@hooktraining3966 And it sucks that it has to take a tragedy in order for them to put those regulations into place when it should have been there to begin with 😢RIP Bernard.

[@valerywi9505]

Bernard lost in the mall maze was really creepy to me. As an adult, the only nightmare that I have (and it’s rare) is one where I am lost in an empty building and can’t get out (dead end hallways, locked doors, stairways and elevators to nowhere, etc.) and the panic I feel in these dreams is monumental, so I have maybe an inkling how Bernard felt. Poor man.

[@self-righteousideologue9398]

You should search H.H Holmes mansion that he built. He made his home to be just like that, with walls behind doors, stairs that don't lead anywhere. Trap doors. It's insane

[@seanrosenau2088]

SCP-087 IRL... jesus

[@D2DAJIZZELLE]

Yooooo I get that same dream them staircases are crazy

[@AutoSearPin]

Don’t look up the back rooms

[@nourbodon4707]

I worked in a mall that had the same hallways for staff/emergency. We had to enter the shops we worked at from the back door (through the hallway). For some reason, even for regular users like staff, these hallways are confusing and dizzying. That monotone cement gray color everywhere drives you nuts. I remember when I first started I had to get down to the loading dock lockers and get the magazine. I got lost confused and had to call for my coworker to come to get me. But a good thing is there is a map in hallways in each section. I think that helped not totally freak out. But I never got the magazines ever again lol.

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

That last story is exactly why those kinds of emergency exits need to trip alarms- not only for the danger they pose to children and the elderly, but the security risk they pose as well.

[@MrArcher7]

That oil rig fatality is like something out of a SAW movie. That story about Bernard really got to me. My father had early onset dementia and got lost on vacation once.

[@marielangan1401]

Well I missed this at the time of posting as we as a family are suffering with COVID-19 so we were all asleep. John you never fail at telling the stories so well. Even my 7 year old daughter loves listening to your voice and nods off when I'm watching you (she's not listening to the story as such it's just your voice she says is relaxing) I totally agree. We all love your posts and get excited when you announce a new one coming on. I've watched every single one of them, some a few times over.. thanks for keeping us entertained when we are all feeling rather ill 🤒 keep up the good work and take care. Love to you and yours from me and mine xx

[@ImehSmith]

OK I do hope that Imbecile murdering shiftless Hoist operator not only got fired but is in jail and sued for everything known and unknown that he's ever had given straight to Gordon family!

[@MrArcher7]

@@ImehSmith Dude has ONE job.

[@zackzane6886]

I’m a crane operator in Scotland, spend 10 years of my life in Aberdeen, my father worked offshore in Aberdeen for over 30 years, couple of weeks ago he told me this story and it’s stuck with me, like to think it’s made me more aware of my surroundings and a better operator as I can only imagine what he felt after killing a colleague, I don’t step into my crane without thinking about this story.

[@kodemeister8915]

It's incredible. How long did it take him to reach the opening? How did the operator not verify he was descending before taking his eyes at his relay? Wow

[@blackcatsassin1220]

My heart breaks for Bernard. That poor old man. I can‘t imagine how scared and confused that old man must have been, all alone in those hallways, waiting for someone to pick him up.

[@Beepboopbop122]

That story was so awful I feel so bad for that poor man

[@SamIAm10262]

How terrible for him. He must have been so scared and confused.

[@aurora-l2g]

Yeah

[@epicMicrowavve]

My grandma had dementia before she passed and that broke my heart

[@codybarry8204]

I can't.....and this mall being so big in the first place. They didn't go back in there and even look for him. It's so 😔

[@theGEnericE]

My dad has dementia, and the thought of the man wandering around with no food or water, just dying alone, is infuriating and heartbreaking. Someone needs to be arrested, and that family should OWN that mall now. So many people failed him. My dad wears a tracker so if he wanders, we can locate him, but it sounds like it was too early in this man's illness for them to consider that. So sad. 😢

[@Mike-n6y1n]

Nooo.. why did the FAMILY let him DRIVE in the first place?? Not to mention BY HIMSELF?? Shame shame shame on them. Anyone with dimentia beginning stages or middle or end, should NOT be driving and SHOULD NOT be TRAVELLING by THEMSELVES!! Don't be so quick to blame the mall. The mall owners didnt wake up and say "we're gonna kill and old man with dimentia today!"..

[@shena8597]

@@Mike-n6y1nExactly

[@Cassxowary]

@@Mike-n6y1nyou don’t know the circumstances and no but they also allow deaths without taking responsibility… this, two girls who offed themselves at different times, the recent massacre… they don’t give a shit…

[@vangoghsseveredear]

I work construction, often involving rigging/hoisting, confined spaces, etc. It's mind blowing that they didn't use radios for something involving the hoisting of people. You can't tell me they didn't have them. Construction sites, especially involving oil, are usually absolutely gung ho to get things going asap. Like Ballen said, every second they're down they're losing money. Often safety goes out the window, even if they tell you "it's our priority". I've seen and experienced it, I'm sure many others in construction know what I'm talking about. The horrible thing is, often the company buries these incidents and try and find a way to blame the workers after the fact. A lot of the time, they get away with it.

[@MiuXiu]

Yeah I have a friend that works oil up in North Dakota, and whenever he gets to a site, on top of the radio he has to contact his company, he gets one to contact everyone on site. These big ocean oil rigs are even more dangerous- I can’t believe none of them were given radios and that they had to run to a phone. Also that someone would just... turn around? Instead of watching and making sure things are ok until the end of the procedure. Idk. The entire thing is just horrific and done wrong.

[@NotBlackWolf]

I worked on a few different rigs and none of them had radios, I think it had something to do with constantly being drenched in water based or oil based 'mud.' Probably would go through a lot of radios. We all kept our cells on us though, so we could communicate. Such a dangerous job to not be able to quickly communicate it. The last rig i was on, my position opened up for me because the guy before me was crushed between the substructure and a shipping container when a forklift operator accidentally rammed into said shipping container.

[@IrisOsiris]

Fortunately we now have things like rope access.

[@friedenstone9779]

I mean, in this case, was it not the operator's fault for not paying full attention to his duties?

[@vladthecoldone8804]

@@NotBlackWolf Damn at least you get paid well

[@nikkibhashkar6327]

I remember when Bernard's body was found (I'm in Oz). There was a huge outcry and anger that no one had checked the staff only corridors for him given that people with dementia are know to wander, and questions were raised about the self locking doors being a safety hazard for anyone who accidentally accessed them. It was absolutely terrible and everyone failed him.

[@normturner4849]

Yes, that is the Pitt St mall meaning the daughters house could really only be lower Surrey Hills or maybe Wooloomooloo, not too far for old ppl. I’ve been in those tunnels in many Westfields & I’ve taken a wrong turn & it sux! I can imagine the fear and disorientation of a person with dementia bc it is SO quiet in there. No water, only concrete dust and very little signage. Not even garbage or signs of any human activity unless you’re near the loading docks. I’ve never actually seen an exit sign & ive been in about a dozen Westfield employee access tunnels across Oz. Longest I’ve been stuck was a couple hours. Just long enough that I started to get worried, but then massive relief upon escape. 😰

[@SoulSoundMuisc]

Once upon a time I was a private security officer in the States. 1) I don't know how it is there in Oz, but in the states all exit doors must be equipped with an easily opening door handle or what we refer to as a 'crash bar' and the door must open outward for emergency use in case of fire. This prevents people being crushed to death against doors in a panic. That the doors self locked is, for me, an unthinkable oversight. A building without doors like that in the states would either never be built or would be required to be retrofitted with them or be shut down. 2) Physical Security (security guard) as a job is terrible. Horrible. Soul crushing. Everyone hates you until they want something from you, including any upper management staff at a mall. You are worse than trash. You are, to them, lower than the janitorial staff (who deserve a lot more respect than they get, lemme tell you). 90% of your job is spent walking a patrol (up to twenty miles a day-- yes, really), answering questions, directing customers to places they wish to be, and very minor nuisance calls. 10% of your job, perhaps, depending on the location, is spent breaking up fights, getting 'stuck in' with a brawl, or having to defend yourself from a drunk, a malicious actor or someone hopped up on something nasty. Part of it is also dealing with medical emergencies, from as small as a boo-boo on the knee to seizures, heart attacks, strokes or spurting arteries. This is my experience of it anyway from some fifteen years ago. 3) These security officers are expected to do everything. I don't mean just their job, I mean everything. As time goes on, more and more and more duties are lumped onto them. No extra compensation is added to their payroll for those extra duties, you're just expected to shut your yap and do what you're told while being openly hated. The shifts can be extremely long, even torturous. I once worked 28 days straight, sixteen hours a day and was expected to do my paperwork off the clock. For very little pay. The officers become jaded, burnt out. Over more time, they begin to hate everyone right back. It is an extremely toxic work environment. Obviously, they stop doing some of their duties, sometimes out of spite, sometimes because they just plain old cannot be bothered to. Now, I am not making excuses for the security personnel in this case. Absolutely not. There is no excuse for not sending even just ONE officer off to patrol those halls if an elderly man with dementia is reported missing. It might take him hours to complete the rout, but he'll be out of the thick of things for it. That's just common sense. As for the cameras, I can guarantee they weren't even looked at; someone just said they looked at them and told the police they couldn't find this poor man. It takes just minutes to do an entrance camera check-- you find the person you're looking for and go camera by camera following them through the facility. It's about as 'easy mode' as it gets. Despicable that it wasn't done (and I assure you, it was NOT). This is a horrible failure of the security team at this facility AND of upper management. This should never have happened, and I'm disgusted. Just some insight from up in the States. It's not pretty, but maybe it will give you some idea of why things are they way they are.

[@avoidtheattic2688]

Yes, agree with you. They should be checking all areas of a building in situations like that. People with dementia will access any space without realizing what they are doing.

[@LinuxJedi]

it was so sad 😭 i’m not crying you’re crying 😭

[@Aquascape_Dreaming]

@@SoulSoundMuisc we call them 'panic-exit devices’ here in Australia and we've had them here for anywhere as long as 25 - 30 years. The management of this mall failed it's customers miserably. There should have been charges of criminal negligence over this. I agree with you. They never looked at the canera footage. Disgusting.

[@Miles-yl7cg]

The oil rig operator story literally left me cringing. As soon as he started talking about the hole I knew where this was going and I wanted it to stop 😳

[@terrymcdonald7877]

Ugh it’s so hard. Like the PROFIT over PEOPLE aspect of our society is so disgusting.

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

@@terrymcdonald7877 YES!

[@xerothedarkstar]

I had to pause for a bit and come back.

[@RonBest]

Yup when he got winched up, and then was supposed to be winched down after i knew someone was about to make a mistake and let that poor guy get pulled into the mouse hole by force.

[@Nostripe361]

@@RonBest It seems dumb that only the wench operator could stop it. Shouldn't they have some safety shut off switch for the guy in the harness or the people on the below deck who could act as a back up in case something like this, the winch man not focusing, happens.

[@beehappyalways]

When I think of the junk my dad used to bring home from his jobs, this story about the radioactive cylinder terrifies me. Once he had even thrown blasting caps into our kitchen junk drawer….

[@MrCerberum]

The mall management is simply criminal. They didn't check the staff only area as they should and they didn't even properly check the security cameras. Criminals.

[@jotunthe11thhyman65]

Yeah, he even went to the spot where he was supposed to go to and they somehow missed this in the review of their tapes. Sounds like they didn't even really check before reporting he never entered the mall.

[@Aasha383]

It is legitimately a staircase with emergency exit doors, tripple zero exists btw,,, if u are the delusional u cant find ur way around a fucking staircase then u shouldnt be out alone. i spent alotta time there its also only 2 stories. The carpark (paid parking) is 6.

[@Aasha383]

@@jotunthe11thhyman65 u do know they don't put cameras in fire stairwells as they're only for emergencies right? They dont lock fire exit doors as its a safety hazard... If you cant read fire exit you shouldnt be out alone

[@jotunthe11thhyman65]

@@Aasha383 I believe in the video they said that after reviewing the cameras a 2nd time, they saw the grandpa guy had actually been in the food court (after telling the wife and daughter he was never at the mall because there was no footage or something like that).

[@Ratking_Actual]

​@@Aasha383Fire exits are locked at closing time and unlocked a bit before opening time.

[@Pat_Zima_575]

The roughneck story was crazy! Just a perfect example of, no matter how many years you've done the same routine in your job, getting comfortable is dangerous. No matter how mundane it may seem, always stay focused on the task at hand!

[@mcdadais]

Yeah that one was really scary. Like why are you looking away? What are you even looking at that's so much interesting than keeping people safe

[@rabbitss11]

He only had two things to do but forgot to do one of them, reprehensible really

[@quincy-2000]

@@rabbitss11 Manslaughter I would say. 60,000 Pounds is nothing for an oil company to pay. It’s less than a year’s salary for an average worker.

[@johnroy806]

That goes for any job, but especially if you have another person depending on you. If your careless and kill yourself, meh. If your careless and kill someone else? Prison time.

[@sandystranger5589]

Let me get this straight: one of the tasks of the mall security was to make routine checks in the maze for lost customers. Then they're told to be on the look-out for an elderly man with dementia who might be lost in the mall, and they DIDN'T think to check the maze?

[@jenduvit28]

Nor check all the cameras , only a few . totally infuriating and needless.

[@kayleigh3648]

Good point!!! And why tf would it require a key to get OUT?!!? They should require a key to get IN, not out!!! That mall is awful!!!

[@D_McGeezacks]

The mall was negligent for sure

[@alecb8509]

@@kayleigh3648 The doors lead to businesses. So if they had no locks, one could rob every store if they had access to the maze. They are locked for a reason.

[@dickjohnson9582]

Let's not forget the family who just let this demented old man who had gotten lost before go by himself to this behemoth mall.

[@Jason-lw7tk]

Story #1 is heartbreaking. My grandma had dementia and I know how confused and scared she would get in unfamiliar surroundings. That poor man must have been terrified.

[@mikespearwood3914]

That was Story #3.

[@OO-sq1cd]

​@@mikespearwood3914mrballen labels the storys based on the worst. The last one was actually #1 not #3

[@BrianaBudgets]

That story about Bernard is heartbreaking. He must’ve been so scared in his last hours/days.

[@stephenlamley541]

Weeks days, hours, minutes, seconds its all terrifying I've had several very close calls. Only bonus I'm genuinely not afraid of death now. The process absolutely terrified, death itself nope.

[@uhuistkeintieruhuistkleber2793]

@@stephenlamley541 may I ask what exactly happend?

[@Bella12187]

😭

[@The_other_Jen]

So heartbreaking.

[@davidperez5089]

His family is also negligent. He had dementia and was all alone. Stranger in a strange land to boot. Rent a cops are only that. Just punching a clock.

[@scottieallen3201]

I can't imagine the pain the guy went through in the first story.. I mean having your pelvis sucked up into a hole while literally cracking your back downward and turning you into a human pretzel.. and let's not forget this thing is moving slowly so each second musta felt like an eternity.. and I can't fathom how long his mind kept hoping it stopped before finally giving into despair and knowing it was over. This could have literally made into the categories of worst ways of human torture to death.. smh

[@pawnmusic]

I feel like monetary compensation is no justice for the guy responsible’s incompetence. Some sort of medieval punishment…maybe. At the very least he’d have to donate an arm or a leg. God, that must have been horrifying. This is why my faith in humanity is cold and dead. Fucking incompetence!

[@smartman8699]

thankfully he probably probably passed out from the pain before he died, but even before the pain would've reached that level it was unfathomable. and it could've been prevented so easily. the mental pain alone he went through is horrifying. hopefully stuff like this will help create better safety measures for oil rigs and other dangerous operations.

[@barbrn]

Why didn't the guy use the phone in the first place?!

[@scottieallen3201]

@@smartman8699 I really don't know why EVERYTHING mechanical doesn't have an easily accessible safety stop button.. smh man went through horrible tragedy for nothing..

[@scottieallen3201]

@@pawnmusic I totally agree.. I don't even know how you would properly punish this level of neglect.. its just inconceivable..a responsibility that has no secondary stop protocol should require that you are on your 110% A game at all times.

[@treyk7460]

The story about Bernard broke me. My Gramps had dementia and the thought of him getting trapped and dying confused, frightened, alone and desperately waiting for us to find him like that breaks my heart. My sympathies really go out to his family.

[@holdupits420]

Nice part of it is he was demented so it would be as bad cause of lack of understanding. Silver lining I guess

[@120-l3l]

Same, I definitely cried 😭

[@bostonrailfan2427]

and it’s terrible that thy were exposed as lazy when THE POLICE needed them to do their one job and they can’t be bothered to do it

[@chanceneck8072]

I have one question: If these confusing staff only halls and tunnels are used so rarely, if ever - WHY DO THEY EVEN EXIST???? ...

[@chanceneck8072]

@@bostonrailfan2427 Agreed!

[@normturner4849]

The worse thing for Bernard was that he likely forgot how he got there and what the place even was. Ive been in those tunnels & there are no maps, phones, signs stating Westfield for reference or even water. It is indeed a labyrinth and with no reference, one can think youre in an endless hell.

[@Caleb-ze5xf]

I feel so bad for Bernard just sitting there calling for help when no help is coming I almost cried at that story

[@Justicia007]

Me too...

[@blazeelvirafirehoof7844]

same here, it's really sad :(

[@mermaid_at_heart213]

That was heartbreaking and infuriating. I hope those security guards lost their jobs and the family sued the crap out of that mall.

[@lordy6666]

I wonder what actually killed him, starvation or dehydration? Poor old chap :(

[@healthy10972]

@@mermaid_at_heart213 well it’s not their faults

[@elizabethhoang1075]

Listening to the first story seriously made me upset and so frustrated. The life of a man perished because of someone else’s pure laziness and negligence. I understand accidents happen and people get laxed, but knowing the possibilities and dangers of the job he was in, that accident was completely avoidable and unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.

[@hurdinekverano5854]

But the way that worked was calling for trouble. There should have been some safety system to prevent that from happening. Imagine the operator is incapacitated for some reason while it's going up. Most of the blame is on the company, regarding safety you have to design stuff knowing that human error will occur.

[@chrislodge7437]

If only someone got to the phone sooner. What a tragedy that could have been prevented. And the fact that some of his body made it through a 10 inch hole?

[@boogiewoogie455]

I was thinking this exact same thing. This idiot killed someone in a completely avoidable accident. If he wasn't fired I'd ask to be transferred or quit. Because I am not working with someone like that no matter what.

[@truth4004]

Someone should have ran to the phone sooner and called him.

[@Africanhorror]

Ikr, why not use radios

[@thediamondduchess7798]

Bernard’s story is so sad. I can’t imagine how scared , lonely, confused, terrified and hungry and thirsty he would of been. Made me cry 😢

[@NiceNToasty768]

that is one of if not the worst feelings ever...

[@John-nh5yr]

yea me cry too yung poor bernard from maniac mansion yar

[@tot8037]

i feel so horrible he died alone and confused in a never ending maze of cement. that is true hell. and all because of lazy idiots that didnt want to check all the cameras which could have saved his life and all the security guards just stopped caring about checking that maze that is just conveniently unlocked to allow anyone to go in and get lost. i hope they got sued. what an awful horrible way to die.

[@John-nh5yr]

@@tot8037 he in the back rooms he not dead

[@CimbomFanFiction]

@@tot8037yeah did they really not even consider he could be in those tunnels? Im sure someone every other day opens those doors n gets lost for a bit in them

[@mntryjoseph1961]

Westfield Center mall has “hundreds of cameras,” yet none were placed in the maze of hallways in the “employee only area!” Pathetic! May Bernard (and the other victims in the other two stories) rest in peace!

[@double_d_8885]

Imagine that man’s family knowing their loved one was killed horrifically due to one man’s negligence. That would be hard to deal with.

[@abc-wv4in]

Yes, so very sad.

[@edward9643]

One man's negligence!!?? There is such a thing as collective responsibility. Everyone employed by that company is responsible for everyone else. What about the guy who thought of something "radical" - actually phoning the winch operator - why wasn't that the first thing done? What about restructuring company policy so that the operator must always be in visual contact - the list of systemic failures is long - & hopefully that tragedy caused a total re think along those lines

[@slapclosed]

@@edward9643 yes you shouldve called earlier but you need to pay attention when your on the job

[@jtrider3779]

@@edward9643 absolutely agree… this was my response to that incident, “I’ve only heard the first one so far, but I can’t even put into words how angry that first one makes me. I’m an industrial electrician, and have done plenty of work in industrial maintenance. One thing you never do is put your safety in the hands of others. When I heard that his body would be controlled by a hoist operator, I already knew where that story was going. There is no reason that he shouldn’t have had his own remote or pendant to control the hoist himself. For example, if I’m working at heights in a boom lift, I’m not going to let somebody operate the lift from the base on the ground while I’m in the bucket… that would be stupid right??? Well that’s exactly on par with what happened here. And to add on to that, the complete negligence from the hoist operator while in control of someone else’s well-being is baffling. And the fact that they only paid 60K in fines, and not shut down is complete bullshit.”

[@jesseowens1492]

If it was one man, he'd STILL being reviewing those tapes...

[@EyelASHes333]

That poor man must have thought he was in a literal never-ending hell of corridors and locked doors… truly a nightmare.

[@RachaelClag]

I was thinking he may have even believed he was in purgatory or something! Poor Bernard.

[@hemendraravi4787]

Literally irl verision of backrooms

[@thatsacoolusernamebih1491]

Omg that was I was thinking of even I myself would be terrified to even walk thru them dark tunnels lmao

[@scratchd0g]

Tartarus

[@johncox2865]

Exactly. That would have convinced me that the only exit would be the doorway to hell. And, he had dementia.

[@sesshomarumagic8210]

Bernard's story is one of the most horribly sad stories I have ever heard. He spent his last moments alone, confused, full of hope and certainly scared. No one should ever have to go through that.

[@syrenasketches6902]

Not to mention they KNEW a man with dementia went missing when going to their mall and yet they don't bother to check that horrible mall labyrinth for him??

[@drnstjhn]

full of hope? 🤔

[@jasmineleong2345]

@@syrenasketches6902 I was just thinking the same thing, that poor man and his family, I had never heard of this and I live in Australia 😰

[@waytosuccess18]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnrNmXR-ea56lbc

[@amanda7419]

@@drnstjhn full of hope that someone would find him is probably what they meant

[@camillejohnson7035]

Mr. Ballen does a superior job in delivering the narrative for each segment I have seen. Continue the good work that you do to inform your viewing audience of events that we have not heard before especially in such detail.😊

[@laurasukkar69]

The fact that poor Bernard sat and died waiting for help had me bawling. What a terrible way to go, especially considering it didn’t have to end that way.

[@paigemanners-brown5116]

That one got me so bad. 😭

[@theboyali_gae2062]

Fr carless people let him die pisses me off

[@brandoncolis3841]

@@theboyali_gae2062 people can be so apathetic when it comes to terrible situations, but not all people are bad. It is terrible what happened to these people (and the dog too), just sad.

[@Blox117]

this is why old people should not be allowed outside

[@mustkilln00bs]

Omg I fucking know, I'm literally in tears rn, poor Bernard... He must have been so so scared and lonely...

[@wfjhDUI]

It's so ridiculous that a mall even had a one-way door leading to a deathtrap labyrinth.

[@757ROM]

That was horrible.

[@xkaix8027]

I feel like some sick person did that on purpose

[@thelink6756]

Seriously though why TF was that even made?. Is this mall commonly used by bank robbers?. Makes no sense. Man honestly could have been saved had the employees not been so negligent at their jobs.

[@chrisiver8506]

Real life backrooms, what a shitty way to die

[@gaiasgift]

I hear you but as a fire exit, you don't want it to be a fire entrance.

[@pedrodelatorre705]

The story of Gordon is by far the most disturbing one you've told. For me, as I used to be an iron worker and we rely heavily on crane operators. I once had a crane come crashing down near me on a site. So yeah, careless operators are the cause of many construction deaths. Not the same I know. Still unnerving.

[@iaincowell9747]

I've heard worse. How about being cooked in a industrial oven? Falling into a wood chipper?

[@drelocs2878]

@@iaincowell9747 Nah this 21 year old worker at my cousin recycling plant in Michigan got smashed just like a pancake from this stamper, Very sad traumatic situation.

[@Texas214]

@@drelocs2878 that’s a scary way to go. The byford dolphin accident is one of the most disturbing one I heard.

[@Texas214]

Do crane operators not have radios to communicate with each other? Not trying to sound like a smart ass or disrespectful never been around a crane being operated.

[@drelocs2878]

@@Texas214 oh man that would’ve been a terrible way to go. I prefer the smashing because it’s instant to be honest.

[@fish-hawk5903]

Really gifted story-telling...it's after 5a.m. I've listened to about six of Mr Ballen's hair-raising episodes in a row and they're all brilliant. Horrifying, and compelling.

[@The_Enclave8]

They should install an emergency stop button for the crew at the mouse hole so they can prevent things like that

[@2nd2nobody]

And they should have automatic call at a certain amount of feet.

[@robocoppok641]

But I feel the winch operator was an idiot for not playing attention

[@rookandpawn]

Yeah, why is the point of operation like a literal mile away nor controllable by the person in the harness... insane that the harness person doesn't even get direct line of communication with the operator.

[@coreym162]

@@rookandpawn My first thought was where were the radios?

[@The_Enclave8]

@@robocoppok641 again, it was an ordinary operation that was nightly so he made a mistake of not paying attention, it may be a stupid one but the operator is not inherently stupid, but not inherently smart

[@joshlcaudill]

This is a nightmare circumstance. I was a roughneck for years. I thought, when he started, that this was a story I had heard also involving the boatswain’s chair (commonly called the “ass wagon”) where the hand was let down until the cable was all the way out, hanging only by the small tab that connects the cable to the spool. The spool broke and the hand fell into the water (hundreds of feet deep) with the hundreds of feet of cable falling on top of him and hastening his trip to the bottom of the ocean. Life is fragile. Don’t hold back showing love to those who put themselves in harm’s way for you.

[@MrBallen]

Wow that’s terrrifying. And good on you for roughnecking jeez. 🤜🤛

[@joshlcaudill]

@@MrBallen shoot man, nobody shot at us. Thanks for doing what you have done. I’ve become cynical about the rulers in dc but that doesn’t change the honor due to those who served in good conscience in hopes of sending safety back home. You’re really gifted at storytelling but you’ve clearly worked to refine the gift. Wish you much success

[@reshaelane9621]

No amount of money is worth putting your life at risk everyday...

[@joshlcaudill]

@@reshaelane9621 you only have the perception of safety. People doing dangerous things don’t have that false perception and proceed accordingly. Sure, accidents happen, but accidents happen everywhere all the time. You know what else is dangerous? Hunger, poverty, having both parents work and not with the children. By me working in the oilfield we were able to have a single income household, which allowed my wife (now deceased…even though she DIDN’T work in the oilfield) to spend what years she had left with our children.

[@momov4060]

@@joshlcaudill you have my respect man, that job is crazy and these big CEO's dont give a fuck about yall, only about the money. Truly disappointing

[@nickking2421]

I’ve spent considerable time on rigs despite my deceased fathers wishes. He worked on them to provide for mom and us boys in the 80’s before passing in airplane crash in ‘89. He always told mom that his boys are not to work on those “damn rigs”. But as fate would have it, both my brother and I found ourselves working on them to provide for our families. Sure the pay is great but the danger and time away aren’t worth it. I used to chase that dollar and live to work but but since I’ve aged a bit and my body is paying the price, I’ve come to realize it’s better to work to live. I wish I had heeded my fathers words but as young dumb men we always learned the hard way. Hindsight is always 20/20. Unfortunately I feel my son may see me as a broken man but it may not be a bad thing, for I’ve told him to stay off the rigs, use his brain to get through life and not his body. I have a picture of my father on a rig with his crew. Every last one of them are gone and not a single one of them made it to 50. I’m grateful I’m still here and able to guide my son. Thanks for the story John.

[@DayvanCowboy195]

I've worked around pmex. When I saw the biggest fireball I have ever seen just engulfing an entire rig I knew I would never work on one. I got out way sooner than most and I'm sure my family is very grateful I did.

[@What.The.Chell_lol]

whoa none made it to 50!? that's so sad !! i carry so much anger that my dad died right before he's 60th birthday ; the younger it is the more upsetting . Anyways , so glad you decided to get away from the rigs..is your brother still working on them?.. you sound like an amazing dad , wishing you & your family nothing but the best.

[@LindaB651]

Glad you've managed to stay with us, above ground! Hope your son learns your lesson without having to feel your pain!

[@apoptosisduellinks109]

Why did none make it to 50? Because of an accident on the job? Of because of strain on body during work with long lasting effects?

[@ms-rachel-anne]

As soon as he described the winch and the mouse hole, I knew exactly what was gonna happen in Gordon's story. I'm sick to my stomach thinking about it.

[@Horned.Eclipse]

Seconded - not many stories get to me, but what this man went through is worse than any nightmare I could come up with if I tried. It's nauseating at best.

[@rebeccajeane8287]

Yup, that's some final destination shit.

[@spnfangirl67]

Bernard's story is truly heartbreaking, I can't imagine what his family must be feeling

[@alysenchristensen3309]

That was also my thought. How would I deal if my husband of probably 40-50 years met that end. Just horrific. Another reason I try to watch these amazing and addictive stories during the day, NOT before bed! 😳

[@johnshite4656]

@@alysenchristensen3309 Hardcore History is better bedtime material. Make sure to let your kids listen in, history is important.

[@azrael5493]

Yeah, I started tearing up. That's so fucked up and tragic and it makes me so sad

[@ktnixon81]

The amount of guilt they are dealing with is probably unbearable. My dad has Alzheimer’s and we have alarms on the doors because he tries to wander off. The one time he got out and was missing for 3 hours was horrifying. It was years ago and I still feel guilty about it.

[@azrael5493]

Petition for people with onset dementia or other mental deficiencies to have GPS trackers at all times by law

[@scarlettroger1508]

These three stories are so saddening, but number three had me in tears. My dad suffered from dementia, and just imagining how scared, confused and alone this poor man must have felt. Just endlessly walking, looking for any means of escape is just heartbreaking. And then resigning yourself with the knowledge that this is how you’re going to die is just incomprehensible to many of us.

[@ONSYAM]

Y, need to give my old man a tracker watch soon. just incase, then we could have known his last location were. damn horror

[@kelleymaxwell3875]

I just watched the Magellan story...I've seen enough. I'll leave the vid playing so Ballen gets his views, but I can't...I can picture that poor man being...Just...NOPE! (Sorry, need to sit this one out.)

[@shelbyraymond8815]

the last story is so frustrating. Had they checked the FOOD COURT cameras, in the area the police said he would be, he would’ve been found alive. And that emergency exit door should’ve either been locked or sounded an alarm when opened

[@anthonydewitt7674]

its illegal to lock emergency doors except they always lock the inside in staircases etc. Stupid but it keeps out random outsiders

[@Malignantt1]

The first thing the mall security should have done was search those tunnels the second they heard someone was missing but was supposed to be in the mall.

[@shelbyraymond8815]

@@anthonydewitt7674 that makes sense, but it definitely should sound an alarm

[@swaplogic]

@@Malignantt1 didnt sound like the mall security really cared about security, just a job

[@Jadstar1]

@@anthonydewitt7674 In other words Government policy killed this man. Democide.

[@mhartm93]

The last one made me cry. Poor man and his wife and their daughter. When you said he did what he always did which was to find a chair and wait for someone to help him or wait for his family, I teared up. He died trusting someone to find him. Rest in peace sir. ❤ 36:29

[@klmn14658]

I'm still crying for Bernard! That poor sweet man. My father-in-law has dementia going on 10 years. It's just awful. I do appreciate ALL the stories you share but I wonder what these scary stories does to you personally. Thank you for sharing.

[@bentonrp]

Truly sad place to be and so preventable too! What do these stories do to you personally? Keep you outside of chimneys! 😬

[@silas537]

@@bentonrp hearing these stories definitely make me second think whenever I’m going to do something and stops me from getting into dangerous situations, I absolutely love this channel.

[@chizzelfingers]

ballen is a pro Trump, pro 2nd amendment, ex navy seal ,us military vet badass conservative. no safe spaces needed.

[@bentonrp]

@@silas537 Yes! 🙂 The exact same for me too! We do quirky things, and it may seem safe, but this channel is an asset for training us to second guess! And it's based on reality, so no overdramatic exaggeration.

[@silas537]

@@chizzelfingers what he believes in is of no concern to me. I don’t care about his political views regardless of me disagreeing. I’m just here to enjoy his videos and entertainment, that has nothing to do with his beliefs. He can believe whatever the hell he wants.

[@kelceynicole]

honestly, the story about Gordon really upset me. his life was really in the hands of someone that was way too relaxed. i know it was an accident & i understand sometimes you do get too relaxed when you’re used to doing certain duties at your job, but the hoist operator carelessness/neglect cost Gordon his life - something i feel was completely avoidable.

[@hermorahncogni3424]

I cant even imagine the guilt the hoist operator must feel.

[@Mr.Bonez2Go]

The dude was pure lazy couldn't even look at the crew for direction. He's lucky the crew didn't beat him to death or throw him off

[@johnshite4656]

The hoist operator must have known that this was a possibility. Just knowing that I _could_ pull someone through a 10" hole pelvis-first would be terrifying enough to make me not look away until the man reappeared on the main deck. What's wrong with some people?

[@killingyouwithlogic5808]

I do High Line Work I'm usually between 100-600 ft hanging from a Crane or Helicopter depending on what I'm doing! And the Gordon story hit me because I've been drug threw some stuff while hanging from the winches and that Instinct to try and fight the winch is truly your last resort attempt. I have had broken ribs and smaller things like hands and wrist because someone operating the winch got too comfy and looked away for just a second, I couldn't imagine being Killed by such stupid people not paying attention when someone else's life is at risk!

[@louisenewson-smith9519]

I felt so much frustration and anger listening to the first story.

[@Katy-ys6rn]

Bernard's story is so heartbraking. Painful to think of how scared and confused he must have been in that bleak grey labyrinth 😔💔🙏

[@tracyjane7724]

I cried during that story. Heartbreaking to think of Bernard confused, alone and frightened waiting for his family to find him.

[@harrietharlow9929]

It makes me sad and angry at the same time. What an awful way to die! 😢 😠.

[@rachelmanor1344]

Security needs to stop being so relaxed and lazy. Lives depend on them hence the word “SECURITY”🙄🤷🏽‍♂️🤦🏽

[@stephenc2481]

It is unbelievable that there are no security cameras. What about the night time security guards? no security walks? no hall-way checks?

[@vionafernandes4619]

@@stephenc2481 If they got fed up of doing the routine check they should have atleast just installed cameras 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@lymmea]

So I did a little deeper research into the oil rig story, and it's a bit more interesting and complex than what's presented here. Apparently, the man-riding (what such harness lifts are called in the industry) actually was carried out in two vertical stages. One got Gordon up to the cables for him to make his repairs; the second was meant to lift him up just a few feet more, in order for him to catch onto a nearby crane. (The paper I'm getting this from is a very technical research paper and I can't entirely make clear what they're trying to say, but I think the idea was that Gordon was going to swing himself to the crane once he was within reach - it stated he volunteered to do this - and then I think the crane was meant to lower him back down?) So it wasn't a case of the winch operator 'accidentally' pulling Gordon higher - that was in fact the plan. Likewise, the problem was not that the winch operator stopped paying attention and didn't notice people flagging them from the deck. Honestly, thinking about it, I should have realized listening to this story that the idea of having to rely on distant waving visual signals from dozens if not hundreds of feet away is a ridiculous way to operate, because it is - and that wasn't how they did it on the rig, either. They had radios they were using to communicate with each other. The problem was that when, after Moffat called for a stop after he'd raised up the sufficient number of feet and the crew relayed that via radio to the winch operator...the message didn't go through. The radios were known to be unreliable, and either because of a low battery or a malfunction, the winch operator simply did not receive the message. Further, the only backup form of communication was a phone box 40 feet away from the crew trying to relay the stop order. So with Gordon already near the underside of the rig(and with him having intentionally been pulled a few feet closer before the stop order was even issued, so there were probably only a couple feet more of leeway, if that), and the margin for error being so small - an investigator in the case mentioned that the window to prevent a catastrophic incident was roughly six seconds - when the primary form of communication with the winch operator failed, there was no backup that could be utilized in time. (It's unclear if visual signals from the deck to the winch operator were even a viable option for the crew.) And with the margin for error being so small, and the winch operator having no line of sight on Gordon - meaning they HAD to rely on a signal, and by the time they might have guessed it had been too long it would already have been too late - it was really just an accident waiting to happen. Ultimately, the management of the Magellan was blamed for the accident, not the winch operator. Which seems fair - it's certainly not the winch operator's fault that the radios weren't maintained, and were being used as vital communication lifelines even when they had a reputation for being faulty. Furthermore, it kind of sounds like these man-riding operations are not exactly the ideal way to perform these kinds of repairs and are known to be risky, but management allowed them to happen and didn't educate their employees on just how risky they were. Probably cutting corners and encouraging unsafe practices because they were quicker, which fosters a work environment where speed and convenience are placed higher than worker safety. We all know that kind of management. Knowing the facts of the case better, I actually no longer blame the winch operator. In fact, I wonder if this other version of the story exists precisely so the company management can promote the operator as a scapegoat in the eyes of the public, without it being a company failure.

[@doeeyedfaun4020]

My heart breaks for poor Bernard. Waiting and waiting for help that never came.

[@RavynMancer]

I know. That was like literally the epitome of depressing and hopeless to me.

[@ammarisrar2005]

The “3 places you can’t go but people went there anyway” is probably the best story telling series on KZbin. John I can’t say enough thanks for releasing these high quality videos.

[@udalix]

I can't help but get annoyed by that title. It should read "3 places you shouldn't go but people go anyways". If it's places you can't go, then people wouldn't have gone there at all, period :p

[@evanbrown.24]

@@udalix ?

[@jcsjcs2]

While I agree to the great story telling, I don't think the title is fitting this time. In the first story, the person didn't go there -- he was dragged there. In the last story it's not a place where you can't go -- it's a place you're supposed to go in case of an emergency.

[@JoeL-ji7uw]

It's good. But for me I like Mr Ballins missing 411 stories.

[@annaceciliafuglestad1120]

The Other ones with Mr. Ballen are usually WAY MORE TRILLING & CHILLING than :*Places you cant go, & People who went there anyways"...

[@daniellickel9867]

Soon as the "mousehole" was shown, I absolutely knew where the first story was going. Really crappy when your life depends on someone else and there is nothing you can do about it!

[@SangheiliSpecOp]

I said the same thing! A mouse hole, a guy that can't see you, and you being hoisted way up in the air with no way down is a recipe for disaster!

[@billym7930]

@@SangheiliSpecOp exactly so many safety precautions disregarded its terrifying i cant put my life in the hands of people who dont care

[@SangheiliSpecOp]

@@billym7930 same. Safety precautions are always written in blood! Never disregard anything

[@MrBallen]

So true. Brutal

[@kerg6223]

Saw that hole and was like "...he's gonna get crammed in that hole, isn't he" and was unfortunately proven right. God, what an awful way to die.

[@tx2sturgis]

In life and death situations like Bernards, the police can require the phone to be 'pinged' and even if it was unreachable, the last few 'handshakes' with the cell tower would have shown that he was in or near the mall.

[@valeriegarcia9221]

I balled my eyes thinking about how terrified and alone Bernard must have felt. What a sad and heartbreaking story! On another note, will you be bringing back your Missing 411 stories? I loveeee those

[@jadetheos8922]

Missing 411 are my favorite! I discovered his channel through the videos like This one but I got really sucked in by The missing 411

[@markkevinmangulabnan228]

What kind of a wife/daughter would let her husband/dad wonder about a massive mall knowing he's developing a mental challenge? Its like allowing a 5y.o kid play near a well.

[@jenniferlonnes7420]

Bawled*

[@_JustSomeDude_]

Unfortunately I don’t think he’s continuing the Missing 411 stuff. There were a kerfuffle between him and Paulides. Paulides disliked a Ballen getting money of the content if I’m correct in saying.

[@Emma88178]

@@_JustSomeDude_ Considering the fact that Paulides lies about a lot of the cases he covers and exaggerates many elements to make it sound more "mysterious" and HE makes money off of it, MrBallen is better off without his stuff.

[@boblawblaw6875]

This is perhaps the best channel on YT. Over 5 million subs in under 2 years is incredible. Thanks Mr Ballen for you hard work and dedication to this channel.

[@MrBallen]

Thank you!

[@saorihirai4492]

@@MrBallen mrballen I just wanna say you RULE! I started watching you and then I got all my siblings hooked on you lol. My sister even watches your videos right before school. You're just that talented and amazing

[@youngforever-r6u]

it's funny how ppl sue others; it's like they think money will bring someone back from the dead

[@wheeliemom3079]

OMG that story of the Roughneck broke my heart. I have known guys who work on rigs and I honestly don't see how they can do it. The fear he must have felt and the pain just really broke me down to tears. Your stories are the best I listen to them daily we need some happier stories that can make us smile.

[@SangheiliSpecOp]

Yeah, he has a few episodes from another series where people go through ordeals but also survived which is nice. It is nice to see your empathy, bless you

[@nerdy643]

If I was on that deck, that operator would be eating through a tube. You NEVER take your eyes off of the persons who's life you are responsible for until they are SAFELY ON THE GROUND

[@shuri.ken6]

FACTS 💯

[@djtripnosys]

Make sure you have eye contact or are in the chain CONSTANTLY. This is basic operator safety 101. That operator should be in jail.

[@midwaymonster815]

@@djtripnosys *Murdered

[@megansmith1382]

100% agree with this and ge should be charged with negligent homicide for real! Just horrific and completely avoidable

[@Eskii_NZL]

The police would have needed to go diving for a body that "fell" off the rig aswell

[@alejandraenriquez9841]

My heart breaks for Bernard. Imagining how sad, desperate and alone he would have felt. Slowly dying on his own. 💔

[@NoChybaNieBardzo]

A very sad story that will stay with me for a long time. Rest in peace.

[@katetyler9487]

yes this made me sad too :(

[@a.k9673]

This mall administration was so irresponsible... 😔 poor Bernard 😓

[@Sinister_Reaper]

I think being alone was the least of his worries, I'd imagine his body being turned into a pretzel was the only thing on his mind

[@alejandraenriquez9841]

@@Sinister_Reaper I think you may be confusing the story. Bernard is the senior that passed away in a mall corridor. That's who my comment it about.

[@whatisnikkidoing]

the last story happening in 2017 is insane to me. who tf thinks 8 miles of concrete, soundproof tunnels with locked doors, no service, and no security cameras is okay?! also, if bernard knew to sit and wait for his family to come find him when he was confused, why tf did his wife and daughter wait at home until EIGHT PM to do anything?!

[@isabellaangeline2175]

23:20 How incredibly touching and sad. The dog slept on Ivan’s jacket because he loved him and smelled like his best friend. He probably wasn’t allowed to sleep in bed with them, so the next best thing for doggo would be his jacket.

[@BohemianPotanist]

Bernard’s story broke my heart and horrified me. That sounds like the WORST way to die. God to think how long he stayed there waiting, crying, lonely…..that was so horrifying.

[@markkevinmangulabnan228]

What kind of a wife/daughter would let her husband/dad wonder about a massive mall knowing he's developing a mental challenge? Its like allowing a 5y.o kid play near a well.

[@pitfulll6859]

@@markkevinmangulabnan228 true, but it was something that had only recently started developing and them meeting there was a tradition. They probably didn't realize how dangerous it truly was until he died

[@markkevinmangulabnan228]

@@pitfulll6859 lets just not act the wife is innocent. She already knew whats going on and still think that hes just gonna sit down and ask strangers for help? Thats just moronic.

[@x1w]

I've been working the oil field for 30 years, I still remember that incident. Lots changed in the industry after that, procedures and equipment, for the better.

[@commiehunter733]

You heard of the "BLACK ELK" accident? Or more recently, the jack up barge flipping? Or the one where the worker was in a harness, tied off to the man basket, painting the side of the platform. When suddenly the crane collapsed and drug that guy 300 ft down the ocean! I'll never tie off to the basket if I'm working over the water, BECAUSE of THAT ACCIDENT

[@idk8964]

I don't get why people need to die to start implementing common sense safety protocols but that's good I guess.

[@taeyatv883]

There's been huge changes and I'm happy. Lost a good friend years ago due to negligence on a rig.

[@cptpayday2080]

@@idk8964 because things work until they dont... theres no such thing as common sense safety protocols. Accidents have to happen to improve security, thats why in F1 or Nascar they raced without fences for ages. Thats why we drove cars without seatbelts up until the mid 70s etc. Hindsight is always more useful to critizise lack of safety but it doesnt do any good in the moment and there is no way to know that a accident might happen especially when it still came down to human and not mechanical error.

[@alexia3552]

@@commiehunter733 I never even go near the ocean and that description just made me nauseous with fear, holy hell

[@nancyhester6459]

37:12 You are such a fantastic storyteller! I could listen to you all day!!

[@FirstLast-vr7es]

Dementia is such a cruel way to to live your final years. Not recognizing any of your friends or family, perpetually alone, not knowing what's going on around you. Just an aimless existence. It's terrifying to think that it could happen to me or my loved ones. I never want my wife to EVER have to deal with me in that condition.

[@DJ-pp4mt]

That's a terrifying thought man.

[@timgreen2426]

Why would they leave him alone knowing he had this diagnosis?!!

[@desperadox7565]

That's why I wouldn't let it come so far. Better a quick end than this.

[@MoonsShadows]

I work in aged care and I can tell you that as much as we try to care and give love to them, it’s heartbreaking seeing families say they don’t recognise their loved one. It can be such a cruel disease depending on what kind of dementia they have. Some of it takes away who they are and turns them aggressive, but sometimes they are mindlessly happy. It can be beautiful. Doll therapy has been a huge blessing. Animal therapy. Cooking therapy. They may not have the memories, but they in that moment are enjoying life as full as they can.

[@Mr2stubborn2quit]

That first story of the roughneck worker made me SO angry. Working on an oil rig is a very dangerous job and one must always be attentive and aware. The crane/wrench operator was absolutely incompetent and careless!

[@gabrielleholt1863]

All of these stories were brutally tragic but Bernard absolutely ripped my heart out and brought me to tears. He was in that maze for DAYS. Dehydration and starvation are very slow and painful ways to die. I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must have been to have to SLEEP in that chair without any knowledge of how much time had passed, no blankets or pillows for comfort, no wind, no food, no water....he was utterly lost and abandoned. The only thing that gives me peace is that hopefully his confusion diluted any panic or fear he may have felt....my god...this could have happened to anyone. And I'm horrified for how this poor man suffered in his final days alone in there.

[@joppek77]

Indeed. Knowing my dad, that could absolutely have been him. :( My guess is that he went there thinking he'd find a bathroom or something only to get trapped.

[@camdelsol365]

Why ask a confused elderly person to meet you at a mall??!

[@jaci4664]

@@camdelsol365 why blame the poor family? Blame the negligent cops and mall security/ staff that let someone die in their halls just because they didn’t make enough effort to check

[@scottwilliamson9011]

@@jaci4664 not the polices fault

[@vanessahenry7238]

Dementia can come on slightly and they thought he would be fine because he had been, my grandmother had a slow version of dementia because she was active, it been not so noticeable - until the pandemic and stuck only talking on phone to family and no one to see each other. She is 96 now and it is bad but before the pandemic, it wasn't that bad - but last October she finally had to move out of her flat. So I can see how they let him be himself - everyone is different. I work at a mall and know these corridors and how they can get someone lost and have had to rescue newbies quite often! There is never enough mall security and sure hell not enough to look through the maze of corridors. My heart goes out to that family

[@boswelljuggdesh2643]

The first story brought one main thought to my mind: Complacency Kills! No matter what you're doing, no matter how many times you have done it, always pay attention to your work. This is especially true if you are doing something that has a potential to be dangerous. Don't allow your mind to wonder or to become distracted. So much tragedy could be avoided if people would just pay attention!

[@TheGamersState]

I really feel bad for poor Bernard, it must have been so scary trapped in those endless tunnels not knowing where he is and hoping for help to come. Rest in peace, Bernard.

[@genehunsinger3981]

LEGEND HAS IT ,he stills wonders those halls,,,,,,,,trying to get cell service,,,,,

[@RainCityMusic07]

I thought you could call 911 with no service?

[@genehunsinger3981]

@@DecemberHeath TOO soon???

[@genehunsinger3981]

@@RainCityMusic07 no service is dead signal.No receive,no out going

[@HardWhereHero]

Yea it is SAD and the fact that no one thought to check the mall maze is astounding to me.

[@danwolf307]

I worked in retail construction for 15 years and i can attest that mall service corridors can be very confusing. Pure negligence by mall security, "yup we reviewed all the footage and he was never here" . I hope the family got a settlement at least.

[@nancyjones6780]

I feel like the police should have reviewed all the footage themselves and not taken the word of mall staff! Makes me 😠

[@grmpEqweer]

Never thought of employee corridors as potentially fatal, but if you have enough of them and add a person with the beginnings of dementia...

[@TheJessicahammerly]

That story hit me really hard like I’m literally in tears

[@DarkBunnyLord]

Hard to say. The reality is most malls have hundreds of cameras and several hours of footage per camera daily with thousands upon thousands of people going in and out and frankly most places security cameras quality isn’t great. Combine this with likely underpaid undertrained staff and many such calls coming in regularly and I wouldn’t call it negligence that they didn’t see him on the footage. I mean even smaller malls will have at least a dozen entrances and exists so assuming they’re open from about 10-8 that’s, at bare minimum trying to find one face on a low quality recording among 144 hours of footage with dozens of people entering and exiting frequently throughout that time period.

[@truth4004]

They could have at least watched the food court section fully.

[@abbycross90210]

If my husband was starting to become that confused from dementia or alzheimers on a regular basis, I sure as hell wouldn't rely on him to walk to the mall by himself. I wouldn't even trust him to walk from a store in the mall to the food court.

[@NDkl5-7187]

I came here looking for this comment! I completely agree, I feel the family is at fault 100%. A mall that size for someone with dementia? That’s neglect.

[@momov4060]

exactly, its the families fault for sure. I dont get what went through their mind there. I guess they didnt think much of it, but now they pay the ultimate price.. Also the hallways couldve been much more safe in my opinion. If theres so many hallways with that length, you NEED to have some clear directions, for both staff and customers. Cause a kid can just run into there without anyone noticing and this could happen so easily because of the ridiculous amount of hallways and cameras

[@jadethomas329]

You can't take away someone's independence just because they have dementia, it's inhumane. The family isn't to blame in the slightest, they were absolutely right to leave him in control of himself, it's his right as a human! What happened to poor Bernard is tragic, but to blame his family is really disrespectful imo

[@jimmyfrench4722]

You’re missing the point of denial, which seems to be the case here. She was just brushing it off, forcing disbelief, it was an afterthought, after frustration, anger then belief of miscommunication, that reminded her of this relatively new, on-setting issue. I’d be willing to agree had it been more confirmed & diagnosed, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

[@abbycross90210]

@@jadethomas329 I wasn't suggesting they should've locked him in a room chained to the wall. By all means you can go out and have fun even if you have dementia. But it should've been obvious after he began to get too confused to know where he is, that it's unsafe and cruel to leave him to his own devices. Someone should've accompanied him there to make sure he didn't become so confused he wound up getting hurt. Do you also advocate for allowing 5yo's to wander the streets alone? Do you think it's inhumane to keep an eye on them to make sure nothing bad happens to them because they don't know any better? How about people with full-on Alzheimers? Do you insist in their independence enough that they should be allowed to cluelessly wander the streets until they die of exposure? I take it you don't have a loved one with this condition or you'd see how much more valuable their safety and well-being is than their freedom to get lost in a big city.

[@D3cyTH3r]

I worked in a British Naval dockyard, and during the induction we did a safety course. To make sure students are paying attention, it's normal for these courses to include some shocking real life examples of safety failures. The one I've never forgotten is the deep-sea divers who were in a decompression chamber. Something failed or somebody pressed the wrong button, and the 3 guys were instantly sucked out through a 6-inch pipe (they call it a "violent decompression"). Pretty horrific stuff.