Over the last few weeks, a deadly new coronavirus has swept across China, infecting thousands of people and leading to huge travel bans.
The virus has killed more than 910 people, yet one YouTuber used the outbreak as an excuse for an extremely inappropriate ‘prank.’
James Potok, a YouTuber based in Ontario, pretended he was infected with coronavirus while travelling on a WestJet flight from Toronto to Montego Bay.
During the flight, Mr Potok told passengers: “I just came back from Wuhan province, the capital of the coronavirus, I’m not feeling too well. Thank you.”
His ‘prank’ resulted in the plane, which was carrying 250 passengers, turning around.
While Mr Potok claims that the prank was part of a strange attempt to ‘get a viral video’, it’s landed him in some serious trouble.
Ontario’s Peel Police has now charged Mr Potok with mischief and breach of recognisance.
The police explained: “James Potok, a 28-year-old man from Vaughan was charged with Mischief and Breach of Recognisance and will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton on Monday, March 9, 2020.”
In an interview with globalnews.ca, Mr Potok said: “I figured it would invoke some kind of reaction. Not on the plane, but more people seeing it on social media, and saying ‘Wow, this kid’s got some balls.’”
However, he claims that he can now see that what he did was in extreme poor taste.
He added: “What I did was wrong. I ruined the flights for 200 odd people. I’m extremely apologetic.”
His charge comes as the total of people killed by the coronavirus reaches 910, meaning it's officially more deadly than SARS.
The majority of deaths are concentrated in mainland China, although the virus has now spread to 24 countries - including the UK.
