A 37-year-old man died while taking part in a paid online livestream from his home in Spain, prompting police to investigate whether viewers who encouraged risky behaviour could face legal action.

The man, identified as Sergio Jimenez, was found dead at his family home in Vilanova i la Geltrú during the early hours of December 31. Police said the case is being treated as serious and is linked to an extreme online challenge streamed to a private audience.

Paid viewers urged risky acts

According to Spanish authorities, Jimenez had agreed to participate in a private, pay-per-view livestream where viewers donated money and pushed him to perform increasingly dangerous actions over several hours.

While the livestream was still running, his younger brother found him unresponsive in his bedroom and alerted the family.

A spokesperson for the Mossos d’Esquadra said officers are examining the full context of the death.
“We are awaiting autopsy results and are investigating whether a crime has occurred,” the spokesperson said.

Family raised concerns earlier

Jimenez lived with his mother, Teresa, who told local media that the family had been worried about his online activities for months. She said another son had earlier warned them that Sergio was making dangerous videos for the internet.

Teresa said she noticed something was wrong shortly before 2 am when her son did not respond from his room. Another family member entered and confirmed he had already died, after which emergency services were called.

Spanish media reported that alcohol, energy drinks and drugs were found in the room, while the computer used for the livestream was still switched on. Voices from the stream were allegedly heard asking whether he was “sleeping”.

Viewers may face legal scrutiny

Police are now checking whether payments and messages sent by viewers could be considered encouragement of dangerous behaviour under Spanish law. Investigators have not ruled out widening the probe to include criminal responsibility for those who pushed extreme acts during the broadcast.

The incident has sparked fresh debate in Spain over online safety, monetised livestreams and the responsibility of digital audiences when real-world harm occurs.