Brisbane man dies in 'planking' tragedy

Acton Beale. Photo / Facebook

A man who plunged to his death from a Brisbane unit balcony was "planking", and police fear it will not be the last death due to the new craze, News Ltd has reported.

Planking involves participants lying flat on their stomach in different and sometimes dangerous settings and sharing photographs of their efforts with fellow plankers.

Acton Beale, 20, fell from an innercity unit block in Kangeroo Point's Main Street and died at the scene early yesterday.

Deputy Commissioner Ross Barnett said the man had been trying to lie on the balcony rail when he fell.

He said the man and another person had been planking in various spots on their way home from a night out.

"He has tragically lost his footing and fallen to the ground below," Mr Barnett said.

"It is what we've been fearing."

The deputy commissioner said he did not know whether it was Australia's first death from the recent craze.

However, he feared it would not be the last as plankers tried to out-do each other in more and more dangerous places.

"Police fear that as planking gains popularity there may be more injuries and, potentially, further deaths," Mr Barnett said.

He warned plankers they would be charged if they tried the fad in dangerous locations. A 20-year-old man was issued with a court appearance notice for trespass when he was found planking on a squad car in Gladstone last week, News Ltd reported.

"Accepting a risk of injury for yourself is one thing, but the potential is there for others to be injured as a result of your behaviour," he said.

"But no penalty will ever return this young man to his family and friends.

"This is a tragedy and our condolences go to the family."

- AGENCIES