UK - Birmingham radio station BRMB was recently fined £15,000 after a commercial stunt went way off the rails. As part of its 'Coolest Seats in Town' competition, the station challenged contestants to sit on blocks of dry ice (geddit?) - carbon dioxide frozen at temperatures of -78C - all for the chance to win tickets and backstage passes to the city's music festival.

Unaware of the risk of connecting flesh with dry ice, some unfortunates in Birmingham willingly signed up for the competition, resulting in four of the hapless souls losing skin, fat and muscle and being treated in hospital for severe frostbite. BRMB admitted breaching health and safety laws during a recent hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

The dry ice stunt is not the first time BRMB has been in the headlines because of its controversial competition stance. Four years ago, the station created a 'blind date' wedding marrying off two people who had never met each other before. Not surprisingly, the couple split three months later.


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