Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Neknomination: RSPCA hits out at 'awful' craze after man in Kent downs drink blended with mice, live grasshoppers and a spider

Aaron Johnson, from Gravesend, combined the animals with lager, vodka and milk before daring three friends to do the same

Adam Withnall
Tuesday 11 February 2014 11:43 EST
Comments
Preparing his drinks, the pile of mice can be seen at the corner of the screen
Preparing his drinks, the pile of mice can be seen at the corner of the screen

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A man in Kent has inspired anger and disgust online after he was filmed downing a blended mix of mice, live grasshoppers and a spider as part of the Neknomination craze.

Aaron Johnson, from Gravesend, posted online that he had "loved every minute of" the stunt, a video of which was posted to his Facebook profile.

It shows the 24-year-old start by putting lager and vodka into a blender, before opening up a series of boxes containing two types of live grasshopper bought from a pet store, a large house spider caught under a glass and four dead mice.

Mr Johnson topped the "drink" off with stinging nettles and condensed milk, before downing it from a pint glass and daring three friends to do the same.

Posting on the Gravesend Messenger's Facebook page, Mr Johnson said: "I loved every minute of it. There was no gun pointed at my head.

"I did spend an hour picking mouse bones out my teeth," he added.

In recent days two deaths have been related to dares performed as part of the Neknomination craze, and there have been calls for Facebook to ban people from posting their stunts online.

Because the insects in Mr Johnson's case are not covered by the Animal Welfare Act and the mice were dead at the time, his actions are legal, but the RSPCA insisted that "animal cruelty is never OK".

A spokesperson said: "We would like to remind people that this is not a light-hearted joke or entertainment, it is cruel and unacceptable.

"You could be prosecuted under the animal welfare act and could face up to six months in prison and/ or a £20,000 fine.

"We want to send a clear message to people that animal cruelty is never OK, even if it is in the guise of ‘entertainment’."

Mr Johnson's video was also met with anger among social media users. Nicky Karn wrote on Facebook: "People video taping death, eating animals. The world is getting sicker by the day."

Heidi Clark said: "The whole concept of neknominations is completely idiotic... Bet you wouldn't be laughing if he'd choked to death on a bone."

Warning: Contains graphic images

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in