Provo, UT — A 16-year-old Utah teenager is lucky to be alive after suffering life-threatening injuries while attempting the dangerous viral TikTok trend known as “couch surfing.”

Levi Teemant, a sophomore at Timpview High School, was placed in a medically induced coma after the stunt went horribly wrong on May 8. He suffered a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, spinal fractures, broken ribs, facial fractures, and severe wounds, his family told KSL.

“It’s so hard to see my sweet, sweet boy like this,” Levi’s mother, Amy Teemant, said. “I didn’t see him blink or move a muscle for more than 12 days.”

Couch surfing involves tying a couch to the back of a vehicle — often in a parking lot — and having someone ride on it while the driver speeds up and makes sharp turns. The trend has been gaining popularity in Utah, with similar “table surfing” videos also circulating on social media.

Levi was initially hesitant to try the stunt but decided to join in after seeing friends do it safely. During his attempt, the couch leg broke, sending him flying and causing catastrophic injuries. He was airlifted to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he spent his 16th birthday in critical condition.

Doctors told his family that Levi is not the first teen injured by this trend this year. TikTok has placed warnings on related searches, stating that such activities can cause serious harm and violate the platform’s community guidelines. Similar videos continue to spread more freely on Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.

Levi has begun showing signs of improvement and is starting to regain consciousness, according to his mother. A GoFundMe has been set up to support his recovery.