Deadly Joke: Workplace ‘Prank’ Claims Life of Turkish Teen, Exposes Global Abuse Pattern

Muhammed Kendirci

Deadly Joke: Workplace ‘Prank’ Claims Life of Turkish Teen, Exposes Global Abuse Pattern

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | November 21, 2025

SANLIURFA, Turkey — A seemingly harmless tool — a compressed air hose — has become an instrument of death for 15-year-old Muhammed Kendirci in a horrific workplace incident that underscores a disturbing global trend.

Kendirci, an apprentice at a woodworking facility here, died five days after co-workers allegedly subjected him to a brutal “prank” involving the forced insertion of a high-pressure air hose into his rectum.

The incident, which occurred last Friday, has ignited outrage and renewed calls for stricter workplace safety regulations and a reckoning with the culture of reckless behavior that can pervade certain industries.

According to eyewitness accounts reported by local news outlet Milliyet, Habip Aksoy, along with an accomplice, allegedly restrained Kendirci, forcibly removing his pants before inserting the air compressor hose.

The resulting internal injuries were catastrophic.

Kendirci was rushed to Harran University Research and Application Hospital, but despite medical intervention, he succumbed to his injuries.

Aksoy was initially arrested but then released on probation, a decision that sparked public outrage.

He has since been re-detained, though the specific charges against him remain undisclosed.

Kendirci’s tragic death is not an isolated incident.

It’s a chilling echo of similar cases that have occurred across the globe, revealing a fatal pattern of misuse and abuse involving compressed air hoses.

These incidents highlight the vulnerability of young workers and the devastating consequences of unchecked workplace hazing.

Global Pattern of Tragedy

The compressed air hose, a common tool in industries ranging from auto repair to woodworking, has become a weapon in the hands of those who treat it with callous disregard.

In recent years, at least two other teenage boys have lost their lives in similar circumstances.

• India, 2023: 16-year-old Motilal Sahu died after a co-worker inserted a compressed air hose into his rectum during a so-called prank at a factory.

Sahu suffered fatal internal injuries.

• Brazil, 2017: Wesner Moreira da Silva, a 17-year-old car wash employee, died after colleagues engaged in a similar act, resulting in fatal injuries.

These cases, separated by geography but united by the same horrific act, expose a disturbing lack of awareness of the potential lethality of compressed air.

When forced into the human body, compressed air can cause severe internal damage, including ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and ultimately, death.

Beyond a ‘Prank’: A Culture of Recklessness, Abuse

Experts argue that these incidents are not merely isolated “pranks” gone wrong, but rather symptoms of a deeper problem: a culture of recklessness, bullying, and a lack of proper safety training within certain workplaces.

“These incidents are a stark reminder of the importance of comprehensive safety training and a zero-tolerance policy for workplace hazing,” says Dr. Anya Sharma, Occupational Safety Specialist.

“Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their employees understand the potential dangers of the tools they use and that they are equipped to work safely.”

The death of Kendirci has sparked a national conversation in Turkey about workplace safety and the need for stricter regulations to protect young workers from exploitation and abuse.

As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of a young life cut tragically short and demands justice for Kendirci and the other victims of this deadly “joke.”

The question remains: how many more lives will be lost before the world takes notice and puts an end to this senseless tragedy?