A 16-year-old boy from Provo, Utah is recovering in hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries while taking part in a viral TikTok stunt known as "couch surfing."
Levi Teemant was placed in a medically induced coma on 8 May after the couch he was lying on broke while being pulled by a vehicle in a church car park, his mother Amy Teemant told Utah broadcaster KSL.
Amy Teemant said her son, who was 15 at the time, sustained a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, spinal fractures, broken ribs, facial fractures and open wounds.
She stated that he turned 16 while in intensive care and was given paralytic drugs.
The teenager had not taken part when the group tried the stunt a week earlier, the mother said.
"Since he saw all of his friends do it and they walked away safe, he must’ve thought it was OK," she said.
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Medical staff at Primary Children’s Hospital told the family they had treated two other couch surfing cases this year.
Provo Police confirmed a criminal investigation is under way as the driver of the vehicle was a juvenile.
The force urged parents and teenagers to discuss the risks of dangerous online trends.
TikTok said it is removing videos promoting the stunt and adding warning messages to related searches.
YouTube also said it prohibits content depicting "extremely dangerous driving."
Amy Teemant posted video on Thursday showing Levi gripping her hand in hospital.
A GoFundMe page set up to help with medical costs has raised more than $53,000.
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