Survival Skills vs Overconfidence: The Case of a YouTuber Freezing to Death

A Belgian YouTuber, known for solo wilderness treks died in a snowstorm in Swedish Lapland. Despite having multiple experiences on his own in the outdoors, he was ill-prepared for the extreme cold and heavy snow. He had planned to spend time alone in the wilderness while recording his outdoor content for his followers. He kept in touch with a friend and his grandmother, informing them of the worsening conditions. Though they expressed concern, he remained confident, believing he would “survive”. It was late at night when he decided to call for help. Unfortunately due to the weather conditions, the rescuers were unable to get to him until the next day. By then, it was too late. He was found frozen to death not far from his tent, with only a sleeping bag and a toothbrush in his backpack. This tragedy highlights the risks of wilderness challenges and how psychological tendencies, like optimism bias, can cloud judgment. His overconfidence and failure to adequately prepare led to tragic consequences, shedding light on the dangers of underestimating risks in pursuit of social media-driven stunts.

The Rise of Risky Content

Social media platforms have become a global stage for creators seeking to entertain, inspire, or educate audiences. While many creators focus on safe and relatable content, others aim to stand out in an oversaturated market. Survival challenges and extreme adventures are becoming commonplace as audiences are drawn to the novelty of these feats. For some creators, the pursuit of views, subscribers, and online fame leads them to undertake increasingly perilous activities. Creators seek to push boundaries to maintain viewer interest and grow their platforms. For some, the fear of becoming irrelevant can outweigh personal safety. Moreover, the positive feedback loop from viewers (e.g. likes, comments, and shares) can reinforce the ability to succeed against the odds, distorting their risk assessment and compounding optimism bias.

There are, however, ways in which risks may be mitigated when creating outdoor and survival content. Let’s take the show Alone as an example. Alone features contestants who compete against each other by seeing who can survive the longest in the wilderness on their own. From a viewer’s perspective contestants are put in thrilling but dangerous wilderness survival situations with minimal gear and are completely isolated from others. However, as risky as this content appears, the show ensures back up teams are available if a rescue is required. There are doctors who assess the contestants at various stages to ensure they are healthy to compete, satellite phones are used, and the contestants’ locations are known. Many outdoor and survival creators want to mimic this type of content but they do not all have the same rigorous safety measures in place.

What Were the Threats in this Case?

Optimism bias can have both beneficial and detrimental effects. On the positive side, it fosters confidence, encourages risk-taking, motivates exploration of uncharted natural areas, and drives people to pursue outdoor accomplishments. On the flip side, it can also cause individuals to overlook potential risks and danger. In the case of the YouTuber, optimism bias might have appeared in several forms:

1. Underestimating Environmental Risks

Spending time outdoors and filming personal challenges can lead someone to believe that they can handle cold or extreme weather conditions. They may assume that their skills, equipment, and past success are sufficient even in unexpected situations. In this case the YouTuber was not prepared for cold, snowy conditions. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature drops below 35°C due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. As the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, normal bodily functions begin to slow down, and the risk of serious complications increases. As hypothermia develops, confusion starts to kick in. It is not surprising that he was found outside of his tent because of this cognitive malfunction. Given the cold environment, this of course hastens the later stages of hypothermia - unconsciousness and death.

2. Overconfidence in Personal Resilience

Frequent success in overcoming adversity can create a sense of invincibility. The YouTuber might have underestimated the physical toll of extreme cold on the human body such as hypothermia or frostbite, assuming they were more resilient than the average person. However, truly resilient people take precautions and understand their limits. Overconfidence creates a false sense of security which, in this case, seems to have prevented the YouTuber from, for example, preparing adequately or calling for help sooner. Poor decision making and increased vulnerability in challenging situations is an inevitable result of overconfidence. Ultimately, overconfidence reduces the ability to adapt and recover when faced with adversity.

3. Minimizing the Consequences of Failure

Optimism bias leads people to think “That won’t happen to me.” The YouTuber may have believed that even in the worst-case scenario, they could recover or be rescued in time. This demonstrates they overlooked the harsh reality of nature’s unpredictability. Even during his ordeal, he texted others to let them know about the blizzard he was in, but still maintained that he’ll be fine.

Our Recommendations

1. Comprehensive Preparation and Planning

• Always check detailed weather forecasts and prepare for the worst-case scenario.

• Have an understanding that your situation can change suddenly for various reasons such as injury or weather.

• Evaluate the natural setting in terms of its potential danger whether it is natural features, climate, or wildlife.

2. Appropriate Gear

• Ensure that the clothing and footwear choices are appropriate for the environment and outdoor activity.

• Bring the right tools and gear to cover your survival priorities.

• Ensure all your devices are fully charged. Most smartphones have GPS capabilities, so learn how to use it. A satellite communicator can be used for emergencies.

• Bring a power bank or solar charger particularly if creating content over a number of days.

3. Risk Awareness

• Be self-aware and understand the limits of personal experience. Avoid assuming that past successes automatically equate to readiness for harsher conditions.

• Understand the importance of maintaining your body’s core temperature and how to do so.

• Work with a partner or a crew when filming. This ensures that someone is always available to help in case of emergencies.

• Assess whether the planned challenge is realistic given the environment or weather conditions. Consider postponing or altering the challenge if the risks outweigh the benefits.

• Consider adding disclaimers to videos or social media posts, explaining the importance of proper preparation, not underestimating dangerous conditions, and being prepared for unexpected situations.

4. Emergency Procedures

• Have more than one exit strategy. Plan escape routes and know the closest shelters or safe places to go to.

• Share your location and plans with someone reliable before heading out. Set regular check-ins, especially if you’re in a remote location.

• It is crucial to recognize when conditions have become unsafe, even if you’ve been successful in similar environments before.

5. Training and Knowledge

• Before producing your outdoor content, invest in formal training in wilderness survival. 

• Practice the skills you learn so you develop muscle memory.

• Learn how to develop your critical thinking and problem solving skills to help you cope with unexpected situations in the wilderness.

• Consult with professional or seasoned survival experts to understand how to manage outdoor challenges specific to your needs.

Final Thoughts

This case underscores the importance of balancing ambition with caution. While we still want to inspire individuals to achieve remarkable feats in the outdoors, it must be moderated by thorough preparation and appropriate unbiased risk assessment. Survival situations are not a joke and should not be viewed as such. It is so unfortunate that many tragic survival stories could be avoided if people were properly prepared. Through education and preparation, you can learn about the inherent risks of outdoor activities and understand how easily situations can escalate. Practice your skills and develop your psychological preparedness. Weather conditions can change rapidly, dehydration can occur even in cool climates, hypothermia or hyperthermia can kill in a few minutes, you can get lost, and you can lose your tools. Being properly prepared will ensure you can create your outdoor content successfully for many more years to come.

Renita Silva, Vitaliy Svetlichnyy