The Perils Of Viral Fame: A Chimney Rescue In Lubbock

A truly unforgettable Lubbock throwback story came across my feed today, and I thought it might be time to rehash it. Sorry in advance to the young man who thought this would all go away someday, and a reminder to you all that the internet is forever...

Grab some popcorn. Here's what happened...

In 2016, 20-year-old Austin Stepp and his buddy, 21-year-old Jessie McManus, were hungry for internet fame. Remember the old viral video site Vine? Well, they thought they'd come up with a Christmas skit that the world would adore and post it there for all to see. Unfortunately, things went very wrong and ended with a rescue mission from EMS, the Lubbock Police Department, and Lubbock Fire Rescue. Whoopsie...

Think Twice Before Trying To Go Viral

Austin got up on the roof and into the chimney, pretending to be Santa Claus, when his shoe slipped, and he fell halfway down before becoming very stuck. His pal Jessie climbed up on the roof and tried to help his friend out by lowering an extension cord down to him. This, of course, did not work. Austin was stuck.

Rescuers arrived at the 3200 block of 91st Street, where it took three people to free him. They were able to get him out of the chimney and give him a stern talking to, which also served as a PSA to the rest of the community on the dangers of getting into a chimney.

Simple Words of Wisdom

Battalion Chief Nick Wilson said, "It's always foolish to go into a chimney. That's just not meant for people to go in there."

Simple enough, folks. Ha. Don't go in the chimney!

Keep scrolling for more silly Lubbock-based news in the galleries below...

Top 10 Best (and Worst) Places to Hide During a Haboob

I'm usually so glued to Netflix, I don't even realize when one rolls through town...

Gallery Credit: Chrissy

If You Haven’t Been to the Texas Tech Museum in Years, Here’s What You’re Missing

The Museum of Texas Tech University is free to the public and open every day of the week, aside from major holidays. Hours vary slightly. You can find more information here.

Also, I'd like to apologize in advance for my photos. They aren't the greatest. I also didn't capture most of the art because it's much better in person, and I want to leave some things for you to discover on your own. Can't spoil it all!

Gallery Credit: Chrissy Covington

Categories: Lubbock News