The playground where Tobias died, the blank patch in the middle is where the merry-go-round used to sit, it was removed by police for investigation.

On Sunday, a group of young German men, who call themselves the “Bavarian Dumbasses,” were attempting to add to their repertoire of Jackass-like stunts when events took a horrible turn for the worse. A misguided attempt to emulate their American counterparts ended in tragedy after a playground stunt lead to the death of one of the performers.

It all took place in  Upper Viehbach, a small village about 20 kilometers away from Dingolfing, Bavaria, a location deliberately chosen as it was on the outskirts of the town. In theory the stunt seemed simple enough, the amateur stunt performers would tape a friend to a merry-go-round, a rope would be tied between the merry-go-round and a BMW, the car would then set off at full throttle and send the unlucky volunteer into a high speed spin. The volunteer in the is case was a 20-year man identified only as Tobias. Everything went to plan until the car set off and Tobias was almost instantly sent flying from the merry-go-round at incredibly high speed. The tape which was holding him to the device ripped loose and he flew head-first into the ground, landing almost 6m away and dying instantly.

A woman, later identified by German newspaper Munchner Merkur as Rita H, who lived in the vicinity was drawn to the playground by the screams of his friends, and presumably other bystanders.

I heard this terrible scream and shouts for help. When I arrived my husband was already there and he was trying to revive the victim but it was useless. He was covered in blood and think his neck was broken.

A father, who was in the area, quickly removed his children from the playground where they had been playing. He later told Muncher Merkur that when the police arrived the driver of the BMW was still in the car, crying.

I wish these video on the Internet would be banned — these are dangerous actions. [I wish] this type of thing just never happens again. Never again.

According to Muncher Merkur, the police are investigating manslaughter charges for the rest of the victim’s friends.

[Source: ABC News, Muncher Merkur]