Miscellaneous
Meken Alimbetova, 40, was trapped in a T-fitting at her Chimkent workplace; colleagues removed it manually after hospitals declined to treat her.
A 40-year-old woman in Kazakhstan faced a life-threatening situation while attempting to create content for social media. Meken Alimbetova became trapped inside a large plastic T-connection piece at the plumbing supply store where she works in Chimkent. The incident, which occurred on October 19, 2026, resulted in severe breathing difficulties and facial swelling before colleagues intervened to free her.
Alimbetova placed the oversized plastic component over her head to film an entertaining video intended to attract attention online. Initially, the scene appeared humorous as she posed for the camera and joked with those around her. However, the situation quickly deteriorated when she realized the fitting had become stuck and could not be removed by pulling it off normally.
As the plastic piece pressed against her neck, the playful atmosphere turned into panic. Alimbetova reported feeling pain in her neck and struggling to breathe. Despite multiple attempts by herself and others to dislodge the object, all efforts failed, leaving her trapped in the store.
Colleagues transported Alimbetova to a local hospital seeking professional assistance. According to statements made to local press, medical staff refused to admit or treat her. This rejection left the group without immediate clinical support, forcing them to return to their vehicle while waiting for alternative solutions.
While sitting in the car, Alimbetova’s condition worsened. She described how her face began to swell significantly due to the pressure exerted by the plastic fitting. The delay in receiving medical care heightened the urgency of the situation, as she continued to struggle for air.
In a final desperate attempt, one of Alimbetova’s coworkers physically intervened. By pinching her nose and pulling forcefully, the colleague managed to extract the plastic T-piece from her head. This manual maneuver successfully freed her from the trap that had resisted previous efforts.
Following the ordeal, Alimbetova confirmed that her health status is currently good. The footage capturing the incident spread rapidly across social media platforms, accumulating more than 7.6 million views. The viral nature of the clip highlights the risks associated with staging dangerous stunts for online engagement.



